PINA

By Pita Ligaiula in Glasgow The Pacific has called for a dedicated funding facility for loss and damage as the world enters the final week of COP26 climate change negotiation underway in Glasgow. The call came as the COP26 presidency made adaptation, loss and damage the theme for Monday negotiation. Developing countries including the Pacific are calling for additional and dedicated...

By Pita Ligaiula in Glasgow Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has called on every world leaders to take immediate action that limits global warming to the Paris Agreement’s 1.5-degree Celsius threshold. At the COP26 High-Level Event he hosted as the Forum Chair, Bainimarama said 1.5-degree is not just a preference –– it should be a promise that we do not break. “To...

By Pita Ligaiula in Glasgow Fijian Prime Minister and Forum Chair Voreqe Bainimarama says the ocean is central to the people of the Pacific and called for urgent action to reduce and prevent the irreversible impacts of climate change on our Ocean. Speaking at the launch of the Declaration on Preservation of Maritime Zones in the face of sea level rise...

By Pita Ligaiula in Glasgow Pacific Ocean Commissioner Henry Puna has called on leaders of the Pacific to never give up in global leadership in ocean governance. Speaking at the launch of the Declaration on Preservation of Maritime Zones in the face of sea level rise for the Pacific at the margins of COP26 in Glasgow, Henry Puna said the Climate-Ocean...

By Pita Ligaiula in Glasgow The Scottish Government pledged £1 million (US$1.3 million) for 'Loss and Damage' has been welcomed by International NGOs. Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said her government would partner with the Climate Justice Resilience Fund to “address loss and damage” caused by climate change to support the victims of climate disasters of vulnerable countries. Responding to the...

By Pita Ligaiula in Glasgow Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is the first country in the region to deposit its maritime boundaries baselines with the United Nations. Speaking at the ‘Implementing the ocean-climate nexus through increased coordination and cooperation between UN bodies: opportunities for the future BBNJ (Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction) instrument side events, Pacific Ocean Commissioner Henry...

By Pita Ligaiula in Glasgow The link between the ocean and climate is vital for survival of this Blue Planet, says Pacific Ocean Commissioner and Forum Secretary General Henry Puna. At the UN Ocean Decade event by UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission on Wednesday, Puna gave a timely reminder that the “Decade of Ocean Science is one of our best chances,...

by Greg Fry When he announced the new AUKUS security partnership, Prime Minister Morrison claimed that it will “enhance our contribution to our growing network of partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region”, including “our dear Pacific family”. It won’t. Initial Pacific responses to the AUKUS security partnership note that it undermines the Pacific community’s deep commitment to keeping...

The United Kingdom has welcomed Samoa’s on-going engagement with the United Nation Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. This engagement includes fully implementing recommendations from the 2016 UPR, such as ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and acceding to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The UK...

A Samoan medicinal plant may be as effective as ibuprofen for treating inflammation, according to a new study that combines traditional community knowledge with a modern scientific approach. Psychotria insularum, locally known as matalafi, is a small tree about 2m in height with small white flowers and glossy red berries, and is used to treat different forms of...