PINA

By Pita Ligaiula at COP28 in Dubai, UAE The Pacific Islands Forum Programme Adviser for Resilient Development Finance, has shared his thoughts on Australia's offer to provide refuge to Tuvalu citizens in the face of climate change. In a PACNEWS interview, Karlos Lee Moresi, a Tuvaluan himself, expressed a mix of scepticism and optimism regarding the agreement, emphasising the need for...

By Pita Ligaiula at COP28 in Dubai, UAE Experts and officials from the Pacific region have provided their perspectives on the developments related to the Loss and Damage (LND) Fund during COP28 in Dubai. The creation of the fund is acknowledged as a significant achievement, but stakeholders stress the importance of careful consideration as discussions proceed. Forum Secretary General Henry Puna expressed...

By Pita Ligaiula at COP28 in Dubai, UAE Tongan King Tupou VI has delivered a powerful speech at COP28 in Dubai that emphasised the need for urgent and collaborative action in addressing the impacts of climate change. In his address, King Tupou VI highlighted the challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS), expressing disappointment that COP28 might not be the...

By Pita Ligaiula at COP28 in Dubai, UAE Palau's President Surangel S Whipps Jr Friday delivered a powerful message emphasising the urgent need for global unity and concrete actions to combat the climate crisis. Addressing the distinguished audience, including COP28 President Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell at the at the COP28 plenary in Dubai, President...

By Pita Ligaiula at COP28 in Dubai, UAE In a decisive moment at COP28, Small Island States clinched a historic win, but as the celebrations echoed, shadows of doubt lingered over the fund's ability to truly deliver for the most vulnerable. Anne Rasmussen, the Chair of Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), spoke exclusively to Pacific media, revealing the highs and...

By Pita Ligaiula at COP28 in Dubai, UAE Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), Anne Rasmussen, has laid out the pressing need for concrete actions at COP28, highlighting the organisation's priorities centered around fossil fuel phase-out, ambitious NDCs, and keeping the 1.5°C target alive. Rasmussen emphasised AOSIS's longstanding call for the phasing out of fossil fuels and subsidies. She...

By Pita Ligaiula at COP28 in Dubai, UAE At COP28, the UAE made a groundbreaking announcement, committing US$30 billion to Alterra, a revolutionary climate-focused investment vehicle. The initiative, described as a "defining moment" by COP28 President Dr Sultan Al Jaber, aims to reshape international climate finance, prioritizing accessibility for the Global South. "With Alterra, we are creating a multiplier effect in climate-focused...

Fiji's Ambassador to Indonesia and Chief Negotiator at COP28, Amena Yauvoli, marked a historic achievement as the Loss and Damage fund was formally adopted during the COP28 negotiations in Dubai. The decision, confirmed at the ongoing COP28 meeting, was accompanied by generous pledges from key contributors, elevating the fund to a total of US$310.5 million. Leading the support were the...

By Pita Ligaiula at COP28 in Dubai, UAE UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell Thursday emphasised the urgent need to accelerate climate action. In his opening speech at COP28 in Dubai, Stiell began by expressing gratitude to Egypt for their stewardship over the past year and acknowledged the weighty responsibility being passed on to the Emirati colleagues. Stiell likened humanity's...

By Pita Ligaiula at COP28 in Dubai, UAE Forum Secretary General Henry Puna has expressed disappointment at the lack of responsiveness from the world's biggest emitters to the Pacific's urgent call for access to climate finance and commitment to the Paris Agreement 1.5 threshold. “Our priority in the Pacific on climate change is the 1.5 degrees’ Celsius threshold. Unfortunately, the...