Environment

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (FAIRFAX NZ) -- An attempt in Auckland to save one of the world's last great fisheries is on the verge of failing, environmentalists claim.

CANBERRA, Australia (SMH) ---- A Japanese whaling fleet ship is again being warned out of Australian waters, aggravating a diplomatic dispute with Tokyo.

HOBART, Australia --- Japan's whaling fleet has turned around and is heading back into the Southern Ocean, according to anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd.

ALL communities must treat the environment with respect or face the reality of its destruction, says Fiji’s President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga ---- From March 11-15, the Kingdom of Tonga is to host a regional workshop on “Law and Contract Negotiations for Deep Sea Minerals” in Nuku’alofa, on behalf of the SPC-EU Pacific Deep Sea Minerals Project.

NADI, FIJI --- Flood affected families in Nadi who benefitted from Fiji’s first cash-for-work project to recover from the devastating effects of the twin floods of early 2012, had a first-hand chance to share their stories with Nicholas Rosellini, the UNDP Deputy Assistant Administrator and Deputy Regional Director for Asia ...

SUVA, Fiji ---- A tropical disturbance which is located far West of Fiji is expected to move Eastwards towards the country and affect the entire group later today.

TASMANIA, Australia (RADIO AUSTRALIA) --- A new study by Australia's peak scientific body the CSIRO shows that fish around the world are shrinking in size.

Biological Diversity or ‘Biodiversity’ refers to the variety of all living things on Earth—all species, genetic resources and ecosystems, and how they function and interact. Biodiversity is the cornerstone of life in the Pacific—our plants, animals, and ecosystems are essential for livelihoods of Pacific people. It has helped shape our ...

Each week from November to July, ornithologist Eric VanderWerf drives from Honolulu to this sandy nature reserve on Oahu Island’s northwestern peninsula to count seabirds chicks and check his rodent traps. Last year, the 20-hectare point was separated from the rest of Oahu by a high-tech fence—the first in the ...

As global experts prepare for a world conference on nature conservation in Fiji in December, the region’s peak environment body claims enough is not known about the Pacific’s biodiversity to make long-term decisions on the region.

The people of the Pacific Islands have a long history of living and coping with a highly variable climate and environment.

PNG government’s determination to push ahead with the development of the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) is likely to cause a clash amongst landowners if outstanding issues are not adequately addressed.

Like many Pacific Islands leaders Tokelau’s head of Government or Ulu o Tokelau Kerisiano Kalolo is a worried man.

The 8th Pacific Heads of Fisheries Meeting is taking place March 4-8 in New Caledonia. The meeting, convened by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), brings together heads of fisheries departments from Pacific Islands countries and territories (PICTs) to discuss not only the work of SPC’s Fisheries, Aquaculture and ...

Environmental and other marine advocacy groups criticised the Pacific’s regional fisheries management organisation for not adopting a tougher stance on conservation at its annual meeting in December. Despite this criticism, CEO of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) said the results “are not as bad as they were made ...

It is said that ‘knowledge is power’ and as we embark on a new voyage for 2013, we do so armed with the knowledge provided by a regional environment outlook report that will steer us towards stronger actions and commitments.

At first glance, Kevin Iro seems a somewhat unlikely ocean champion. Raised in Auckland, Iro had a successful career in rugby, playing for clubs in England, Australia and New Zealand. But off the rugby field, Iro developed a strong passion for the ocean starting as a young boy, when his ...

Pacific Islands Countries have long been advocating for strong reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the impacts of climate change.

In his second and final stint at the helm of the world’s most powerful country, President Barack Obama can afford to go for broke. He does not have to deal with any possibility of a re-election and knows this is his opportunity to give his best shot at fixing things ...

In the December issue of Islands Business, an article titled “Climate Change in a Coconut Shell” looked at the recent climate negotiations meeting in Vanuatu, rightly making the case that getting help to people in need must be the first priority.

On 29 October, 2012, Tokelau became the first country in the world to be producing one hundred percent of its electricity from a renewable source—the sun.

Two world superpower nations—one global leader and the other second biggest—both had their elections in November. Washington re-elected Barak Obama as president and Beijing replaced a ten-year reformist with a billionaire businessman Wen Jiabao.

“Building resilience to climate change in the Pacific Islands.” This was the theme of a regional and international briefing on climate change held in Port Vila, Vanuatu, from October 31 to November 2.

As this is the last column for 2012, I would like to wish ISLANDS BUSINESS readers all the best for Christmas and for a peaceful and enjoyable 2013.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has been actively working on climate change in the Pacific for almost 25 years—long before climate change became a household word of global interest and concern.

Reacting to the release last month of the UN Special Rapporteur's report on nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands, the US Embassy in Majuro said: "The United States is committed to a continuing dialogue and cooperation with the Marshallese people and their government on this important issue."

Pacific countries and territories met in early September at the 23rd annual SPREP Meeting.

Jeban Riklon traveled half way around the world to be present at the September 13 United Nations Human Rights Council's hearing on the human rights impact of US nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands.

The release in mid-September of the United Nations Special Rapporteur's report on the human rights impact of nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands provides a roadmap for the United States, the United Nations and the Marshall Islands to effectively address the numerous outstanding problems in this north Pacific nation.

The annual summit of Presi dents in the north Pacific in early July agreed to pursue two innovative climate change response strategies and reached agreement on several regional organization proposals.

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, better known as Rio+20, held in June in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was the most recent of the 10-yearly Earth Summits dating back to the first held in Stockholm in 1972.

‘At the end of Rio+20, no binding agreements were arrived at or signed on. None of the overarching commitments that have been repeatedly sought after at such mega events previously were to be seen. Rather, a feel good document was put out with several initiatives agreed to, mostly informally, by ...

June was a good month for birthdays in Samoa. The main event was the 50th anniversary of independence in Samoa. SPREP joined many others to congratulate the Government and people of Samoa on this wonderful achievement.

The adverse effects of climate variability and climate change are putting additional pressure on already vulnerable Pacific Island states and affecting the very basics of survival – fresh water supply and food production.

This month, thousands of the world’s political leaders, scientists, corporate heads and representatives from civil society, non government organisations and interest groups will gather at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (better known as the Rio+20 summit) in Brazil.

This month, yet another mega-jamboree aimed at saving the world will be held at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Called the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, or by the catchy Rio+20 in commemoration of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) that was held in the same ...

This month sees the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, also known as ‘Rio+20’ or ‘Earth Summit 2012’ getting underway.

I would like to begin this article by warmly congratulating the Government of Samoa on their 50th anniversary of independence which will be celebrated in June.

The world is gearing up to meet in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012 for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) or Rio+20 as it is more commonly known.

Businessman David Iro, who pioneered solar development in his native Solomon Islands, was looking forward to cap off his success by manufacturing solar for the first time this yea—12 years after he started from almost nothing.

Dirty, ugly tuna politics reared its ugly head again at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting in Guam in March.

Climate change is re-writing the way Pacific Islands communities live their life.

Fiji is the latest Pacific Islands nation eyeing a fishing ban on sharks after Palau and Marshall declared their waters a shark sanctuary.

Here in the Pacific region, wetlands are better known as our rivers, freshwater lakes, coral reefs, mangroves, mud flats, marshes and seagrass beds. Wetlands are important for many different reasons.

As the United States fought its way across Micronesia during World War Two, it launched a strike against Japanese naval forces that could hinder the US advance on the Japanese mainland.

SPREP has an active marine species programme focused on three groups of marine animals: dugongs, marine turtles and cetaceans (whales and dolphins).

Clean Pacific—two powerful words that evoke images of the environment our forefathers enjoyed and the kind of environment our children and grandchildren by right should enjoy. Two simple words, yet they embody the aspirations for all Pacific people.

The world’s climate leaders managed to avoid a confrontation between blocs of countries at last month’s talks in Durban by agreeing to postpone any drastic action by at least another decade. The climate talks finally concluded more than 36 hours after the scheduled closure after much debate that threatened to ...

Climate change poses immense risks and dangers for our region. It is thus no surprise that the Pacific Islands countries and territories were well represented at the recent Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in December in Durban, South Africa.

For more than two decades, Pacific governments and community organisations have used global summits to highlight the link between economic growth and environmental sustainability.

That message is ringing loud and clear on many different levels.