PINA

By Nic McLellan in Noumea, New Caledonia On the final day of the Pacific Islands Forum mission to New Caledonia, the delegation of Forum leaders’ broke bread with church and community elders at a working breakfast. Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka thanked the hosts for their welcome, in the presence of senior church leaders like the Catholic Archbishop of Noumea,...

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday called for decisive action to restore harmony with nature, warning that environmental crises are pushing humanity toward tipping points that threaten ecosystems, livelihoods and global stability. Speaking at the opening of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), he emphasised that “making peace with nature is the...

Pacific nations need anti-doping programmes to be able to support their athletes and get on level terms with top nations. This was discussed at the first-ever Pacific Sports Ministers at the Tanoa Hotel. The President of the World Anti-Doping Agency, Witold Banka said the anti-doping topic is really important. They are here to discuss what they have to offer to athletes...

By Nic Maclellan in Noumea, New Caledonia President Louis Mapou and the Government of New Caledonia has met with a visiting mission of Pacific Islands Forum leaders, with the Kanak politician noting “New Caledonia is at a turning point in its evolution, and the political, economic and social system that’s existed for many years has reached its end.” The French...

Fiji’s Attorney-General Graham Leung has urged Pacific law officers to address the region's pressing legal challenges, highlighting climate change, digital transformation, and rising authoritarianism as critical issues for the Pacific's legal framework. “This meeting isn’t just about sharing experiences; it’s a chance to deepen our collaboration on issues that profoundly affect the daily lives of Pacific Islanders,” Leung said in...

In a decisive push for a stronger, more integrated Pacific, the Pacific Community’s deputy director for Disaster and Community Resilience Programme (DCRP), Exsley Taloiburi, urged regional leaders and experts to turn ideas into action at the Second Regional Co-Design Workshop for Integrate Pasifika. “This isn’t just another project; it’s a fundamental shift in how we approach regional collaboration and knowledge...

Many of the world’s most biodiverse areas are found within the ancestral lands of Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLC) and comprise of diverse ecosystems maintained through customary laws, spiritual values and traditional practices. Vanuatu and Fiji showcased IPLC leadership in protecting and managing high biodiversity areas in a range of initiatives in their countries, sharing with a global audience...

In the lead-up to the 2024 U.S elections, diaspora leaders from U.S territories began discussions on how their communities can participate in the political process. A virtual dialogue hosted by the Right to Democracy explored ways to better engage voters from Guam, the Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the U.S Virgin Islands, as part of a larger effort...

As the clock ticks towards the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11-22 November 2024, Pacific delegates heading there will have a ‘home away from home’ at the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion and the Pacific Delegation Office. And already, the excitement is building with up to 80 side...

New data released by the UN on Monday indicating that greenhouse gases have hit a record high show once again that urgent action and not words is needed from the world’s major polluters to protect us all from climate change, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) insisted. The appeal comes as global leaders prepare to gather for the UN’s Climate Change...