Results for Pacific Islands

Pacific representatives have called for urgent reform to climate finance and regional cooperation at a high-level panel on climate security on day one of the 2025 Pacific Regional and National Security Conference, being held in Suva, Fiji from 14-16 July.

Pacific governments can improve the performance of their state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and reduce fiscal risks by implementing clearer and more consistent government ownership and oversight arrangements, according to a policy brief published on 24 June by the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB’s) Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI).

Tonga is hosting the 27th Pacific Immigration Development Community (PIDC) annual conference, officially opened today, 17 June, by HRH Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala at the Fa’onelua Convention Center in Nuku'alofa. Tonga last hosted the PIDC conference 22 years ago, in 2003.

Pacific leaders have issued a unified call for urgent global action to protect the world’s largest tuna production region from the accelerating impacts of climate change. This message was reinforced at the 3rd UN Oceans Conference in Nice, France during a side event on Tuesday, 10 June, co-hosted by the Government of Niue and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).

Tonga has reasserted its commitment to protecting marine life and advocating for the legal and ethical recognition of whales as fellow beings of the ocean, to mark World Oceans Day. HRH Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Tuku’aho represented the kingdom at the Launch of “I’m a Person Too” Campaign at UNESCO Ocean Literacy Pavilion in Nice, France yesterday, 9 June.

Tonga is committed to the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme and to the wellbeing of its citizens working in Australia, HE Curtis Tu‘ihalangingie, the Acting Tonga High Commissioner, told a workshop and exhibition day held in Canberra recently. The event held at the Australian National University showcased the positive impacts of the PALM scheme from a Tongan perspective and addressed the challenges.

Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, visited Tonga today and reaffirmed Australia's commitment as Tonga's largest development and security partner. During her tour of three Pacific countries, she acknowledged the region's growing challenges, particularly climate change. “The Pacific peoples speak with authority on climate, and your voice should be heard in the world,” she stated.

Fisheries officials and delegates from the members of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), are gathering this week at the Millenium Hall in Alofi, Niue, for the 138th Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC) Annual Officials Meeting. The five-day meeting offers an important opportunity for members to shape the direction of sustainable tuna fisheries management in the Pacific region.

Researchers have calculated that the 2022 explosive eruption of Tonga's Hunga volcano emitted almost 19 million tonnes of sulfur dioxide, but because the eruption started at least 400 m below sea level, most of the sulfur was erupted into the ocean. The submarine explosions injected an unprecedented amount of seawater into the atmosphere, while sulfur and other volcanic products went into the sea. The researchers say this raises questions about the impact on marine life, and that the long-term effects of seawater on the atmosphere are also unclear.