PINA

While the world’s biggest polluters dominate the headlines this week at the UN climate summit with an array of sensationalist pledges and announcements, designed mainly to distract us all from a lack of real climate action, one of the biggest scandals of all is taking place right under our noses. The great global land grab. AKA carbon markets. COP28 is awash...

By Pita Ligaiula at COP28 in Dubai, UAE The Director General of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Dr Tupou-Roosen, has highlighted the critical role of Tuna in Pacific fisheries and food security at the COP28 negotiation in Dubai. "When we think about fisheries, we recognise how vital it is for the region and the world – it provides food for the...

By Pita Ligaiula at COP28 in Dubai Palau’s climate change negotiator and Chair of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) Xavier Matsutaro, Sunday offered a frank assessment of the ongoing COP28 negotiations as the conference approaches its final days in Dubai. Matsutaro described the current atmosphere as both interesting and busy. He also highlighted the fluidity of proceedings. “It's been an interesting...

By Pita Ligaiula at COP28 in Dubai Forum Secretary General, Henry Puna Saturday emphasised the importance of the 1.5-degree goal in the Paris Agreement, describing it as a “critical threshold” in Pacific fight for survival. Puna reiterated the concerns voiced by Pacific Leaders and highlighted key initiatives aimed at securing a sustainable future for the Pacific region. “I stand before you today...

By Pita Ligaiula at COP28 in Dubai, UAE In a panel discussion at COP28 Saturday, Pacific Ministers emphasised their priorities and the urgency of addressing critical issues such as climate change adaptation, Loss and Damage and climate finance. The panel featured Chris Bowen, Australian Climate Change Minister; Mona Ainu’u, Niue Minister for Natural Resources; Simon Watts, New Zealand Minister for Climate...

By Pita Ligaiula at COP28 in Dubai, UAE The climate envoy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Tina Stege,Saturday expressed grave concerns about attempts by certain countries to weaken the emphasis on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) at the ongoing COP28 climate change negotiations in Dubai. Tina Stege, representing the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), emphasised the significance...

By Pita Ligaiula at COP28 in Dubai, UAE As COP28 in Dubai moving towards its conclusion next week, negotiators are in a critical phase, scrambling to secure key agreements before the deadline. In an update on the state of play from the Pacific Islands Forum Programme Adviser for Resilient Development Finance, Karlos Lee Moresi, provided insights into the ongoing discussions, focusing...

Opinion piece by former Fiji's Ambassador to the UN, Satyendra Prasad at COP28 in Dubai COP 28 has entered its crucial business end - where the World leaders must agree to the pathway forward. Pacific's leaders cannot afford to be sidetracked by the many announcements and the festive nature of this COP. None of the announcements such as operationalisation of Loss...

By Pita Ligaiula at COP28 in Dubai, UAE Fiji's Ambassador to Indonesia and lead negotiator on climate change, Amena Yauvoli, has emphasised the importance of the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) as a crucial modality for climate funding in the Pacific region. “I think the PRF will be the modality for the Pacific to go forward because it's been approved by the...

By Pita Ligaiula at COP28 in Dubai, UAE UN Climate Change chief, Simon Stiell Friday stressed the urgency of finding solutions to address the climate crisis on a global scale. “COP28 must be about solutions to get all countries out of this climate mess. That is my central focus: solutions, acceleration, the highest ambition here at COP, and a springboard for the...