Pacific delegates urged to make their voices heard at the global plastics treaty negotiations next month.
As the world grapples with the plastic crisis, international efforts are underway towards a legally binding treaty to address this global issue across five International Negotiating Committee (INC) meetings.
The Pacific Regional Preparatory Workshop for the Third Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting held in Koror, Palau from 18-20 October 2023, to further discuss Pacific strategies and seek endorsement on the Pacific Island Developing States (PSIDS) positions for the INC-3 including enhancing PSDIS coordination as well as commitment to the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and Asia Pacific processes. d
Worldwide plastic production has grown from approximately 1.5 million metric tons in 1950 to an estimated 275 million metric tons by 2010, and then approximately 359 million metric tons by 2018.
Approximately 8 million metric tons of plastic makes its way into our oceans each year. For the Pacific Islands region, custodians of the world's largest ocean this is a cause of grave concern.
“Plastic pollution, including in our ocean, has repercussions far beyond debris-ravaged beaches or dramatic pictures of the great Pacific garbage patch. It represents tremendous public costs in terms of waste management, and potentially undermines critical economic sectors of our societies, including tourism or fisheries. Most importantly, plastic pollution in the ocean, in the water, in the soil and the air is a threat to human health,” said the Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Dr. Filimon Manoni.
The meetings are hosted by the Government of Palau in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and financial support from the Government of Australia, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the ACP MEAs 3 Programme. Read more: Pacific delegates urged to make their voices heard at the global plastics treaty negotiations next month | Pacific Environment (sprep.org)
Pacific Day 2023: Shaping Environmental Assessments and Planning for Resilient Development in the Pacific.
Auckland, New Zealand – Pacific Day, hosted by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme on the margins of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) 2023 Conference, marked a significant milestone in fostering constructive dialogues and collaborations centred on environmental assessments and planning in the Pacific region.
With the support of Stantec New Zealand, EIANZ and the New Zealand Association for Impact Assessment (NZAIA), the event brought together a diverse group of over 60 participants from the Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, and other international partners, including participants who joined virtually. These included esteemed representatives from regulatory government entities, impact assessment practitioners, academia, environment experts, and private sectors, with a common goal and commitment to shaping a more sustainable and resilient Pacific.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Easter Chu-Shing, Deputy Director-General of SPREP, emphasized the region's distinct challenges and highlighted the Pacific Day as a "platform for Pacific countries to engage in meaningful discussions, share lessons and experiences, and foster greater relationships with international organisations and experts on sustainable environmental practices." She also acknowledged SPREP’s recent partnership MoU signed with EIANZ highlighting it as a testament to deepening collective and collaborative efforts in achieving environmental sustainability in the Pacific region. Ms. Chu Shing emphasised that partnerships and collaborations are important in supporting our efforts in achieving sustainable development.
SPREP and Pacific Island participation in the EIANZ 2023 conference and associated events is supported through the European Union initiated capacity building project phase 3 titled, “Capacity Building related to Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Countries”, implemented by UN Environment programme and executed by SPREP. Read more: Pacific Day 2023: Shaping Environmental Assessments and Planning for Resilient Development in the Pacific | Pacific Environment (sprep.org)
Pacific delegates adopt the first ever amendment to the Waigani Convention.
The extraordinary meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP) to the Waigani Convention made history today as Parties to the Convention adopted its first-ever amendment marking a significant step toward aligning the Convention with international efforts to combat plastic waste.
The Waigani Convention, a regional treaty aimed at tackling hazardous waste and other pollutants in the Pacific region, has long been a crucial instrument for environmental protection and sustainability.
The Convention is a mirror of the Basel Convention, which adopted amendments to Annexes II, VIII and IX with the objectives of enhancing the control of the transboundary movements of plastic waste and clarifying the scope of the Convention as it applies to such waste.
The Pacific Preparatory Meeting for the 5th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention (MC COP-5) on Mercury, the Extraordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Waigani Convention, the GEF ISLANDS Pacific and Pacific Ocean Litter Project Consultation Meetings, and the Pacific Preparatory Meeting for the 3rd session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-3) on Plastic Pollution is held in Koror, Palau from 12-23 October, 2023.
The meetings are hosted by the Government of Palau in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and financial support from the Government of Australia, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the ACP MEAs 3 Programme. Read more: Pacific delegates adopt the first ever amendment to the Waigani convention | Pacific Environment (sprep.org).
Making mercury history, Pacific delegates gather in Palau to prepare for Minamata COP.
Representatives from seven Pacific Island countries, Parties to the Minamata Convention, as well as four observer countries, gathered today in Koror, Palau to prepare for the 5th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury to be held in Geneva, Switzerland from 30 October to 3 November 2023.
The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a significant international treaty aimed at protecting human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury and mercury compounds.
Named after the city in Japan where severe mercury poisoning incidents occurred in the 1950s and 1960s, the convention has been a critical global initiative to address the dangers associated with mercury exposure. It seeks to reduce the emissions and releases of mercury and to control its trade and use, particularly in artisanal and small-scale gold mining, among other sources.
The Pacific Preparatory meeting is convened by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) to discuss matters relating to the agenda and work program of the Minamata COP 5 including potential amendments to the convention and prepare Pacific Parties for their active participation at the meeting.
The Pacific Preparatory Meeting for the 5th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention (MC COP-5) on Mercury, the Extraordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Waigani Convention, the GEF ISLANDS Pacific and Pacific Ocean Litter Project Consultation Meetings, and the Pacific Preparatory Meeting for the 3rd session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-3) on Plastic Pollution is held in Koror, Palau from 12-23 October, 2023.
The meetings are hosted by the Government of Palau in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and financial support from the Government of Australia, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the ACP MEAs 3 Programme. Read more: Making mercury history, Pacific delegates gather in Palau to prepare for Minamata COP | Pacific Environment (sprep.org)
Pacific Delegates Amplify Their Voice at International Association for Impact Assessment Conference.
The 42nd Annual Conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) was held in Kuching, Malaysia from 8 - 12 May 2023 which brought together over 600 environmental assessment practitioners, researchers, and policymakers from around the world to discuss how impact assessment and leadership can accelerate transformation and sustain resilience in a world marred by pressing adversities that require immediate and impactful solutions.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme supported three Pacific delegates attending the conference. The participation of SPREP's and representatives from its member countries underscores the organizations commitment to building national capacity for environmental assessments and planning by facilitating knowledge sharing and collaborations at the international level. The conference was also a platform to strengthen its key partnerships in the field of environmental assessment and planning in the Pacific.
Strengthening Strategic Environmental Assessments in the Pacific
The Strengthening Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) in the Pacific Webinar brought together seasoned professionals, policymakers, environmental regulators, practitioners, civil society organizations, academics and other stakeholders involved in environmental decision-making in the Pacific region. It was held on 5 April 2023.
The webinar event featured presentations from New Zealand Associations for Impact Assessment (NZAIA) and built on Regional SEA Guidelines for Pacific Island Countries and Territories developed by SPREP 2020. It provided an in-depth overview of the principles and practices of SEA and discussed the unique challenges and opportunities in the Pacific region.
In light of SPREP's 30th anniversary, the webinar was also an opportunity to reflect on SPREP's sustained efforts on environmental governance and to recommit advancing environmental and social sustainability in the Pacific.
Read more: Strengthening Strategic Environmental Assessments in the Pacific | Pacific Environment (sprep.org)
Calls for Ambitious Targets to Reverse and End Plastic Pollution
One Pacific voice to amplify our island region coalition to end plastic pollution. It sets an ambitious target to reverse and end plastic pollution by 2040. The Second Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC2) was held in the Cook Islands from 24 – 25 April 2023. The two-days meeting will form the Pacific strategy for a united way forward. The UN Environment Assembly passed a resolution in February 2022 to develop a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution including that within our marine environment.
More than eight million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year with 40% of the world ocean’s surface is covered in plastic debris. Living within the largest of the world’s oceans, the Pacific Islands are uniting to build One Pacific Voice to amplify our Island region concerns. As the Pacific region contributes 1.3% to global plastic pollution.
The Pacific Regional Preparatory Workshop is convened by the Secretariat of the Pacific Environment Programme (SPREP) with funding support from the Government of Australia and Capacity Building Related Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Region Phase III. Read more https://www.sprep.org/news/cook-islands-calls-for-ambitious-targets-to-reverse-and-end-plastic-pollution
The Cook Islands Proactively Conserving Biodiversity
A two days’ workshop was held in the Cook Islands from the 24 – 25 January 2023 to assist national practitioners and policy makers to gain an insight into potential Other Effect Area-based Conservation Measures (OECM) concept. OECMs are not Protected Areas but are geographically defined areas that are governed and managed in ways that sustain positive and sustained long-term conservation. The two days' workshop brings together stakeholders to discuss the possible benefits and drawback of recognizing and reporting these areas and learn about the tools and assistance available. The Director of Cook Islands National Environment Service said “We are excited by the opportunities that OECMs will bring, we look forward to reviewing the value of these in the Cook Islands. They enable and empower our local communities that are currently conserving areas either on land or in our waters, to be acknowledge for their work and environment achievements hopefully leading to further support.”
The value of our "Protected Areas" goes beyond financial cost to that which help sustain our well-being be it sustainable water resourcing, food security, supporting our Cook Islands economies and uplifting our culture. OECMs are one way that we canl all work together at all levels to invest and increase this value in our island nation. Read more The Cook Islands, proactively conserving biodiversity | Pacific Environment (sprep.org)
Capacity Building in Drone Training for Samoa
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) through the Environmental Monitoring and Governance (EMG) programme conducted a two-day Drone Training and Mapping workshop with key national environment stakeholders from Samoa’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) and Ministry of Works, Transport, and Infrastructure (MWTI).
The two days’ workshop was coordinated by Environmental Monitoring and Governance Programme (EMG) and supported by MNRE. It was held at the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) on Thursday, 17t and Friday 18 November 2022. The Drone Training and Mapping workshop was also part of the 2022 Global GIS Week event at SPREP organized by the GIS unit with the theme “Inspiring Spatial Citizens”.
The importance of drone imagery in capturing real-time ground information for GIS analysis has been used in different fields, as a monitoring and decision-making supporting tool in Disaster management; Forest resources management; Landslides risk assessment; Mining; Flood control; Hazardous waste considerations; Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) and Natural resources management to ensure sustainable development. With a drone, it is possible to carry out topographic surveys of the same quality as the highly accurate measurements collected by traditional methods, but in a fraction of the time. Capacity Building in Drone Mapping for Samoa | Pacific Environment (sprep.org)
Cook Island's National Environment Service Applauds Training Workshop on Environmental Governance and Sustainable Management.
The Environmental Planning Unit of the Environmental Monitoring and Governance (EMG) programme of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has delivered and in-country training workshop to the National Environment Services (NES) of the Cook Islands from 7 – 11 November 2022. The week-long programme was hosted at the NES office in Rarotonga and attended by over 20 officers from the Service. The training focused on raising the capacity of NES on Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). Cook Island’s National Environment Service Applauds Training Workshop on Environmental Governance and Sustainable Management. | Pacific Environment (sprep.org)
Data Critical to Good Environment Decision-Making
Data collection and management in the Pacific region is challenging and expensive in terms of time, funds, and resources. The issues concerning the collection, management, processing integration and dissemination of environmental data were highlighted at the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion in Sharm El-Sheikh during the second week of the COP27 climate change negotiations get underway. The GEF funded UNEP-SPREP Inform project addressed several of these issues by establishing data tools, strategic partnerships, and products together with processes to assist Pacific Island countries to meet identified priorities and to report back on national, regional, and global reporting obligations.
To meet these obligations, the ACP MEA 3 project is working together with the Inform project to ensure that data and the reporting processes from the national environment and climate change ministries meet the various multilateral environmental agreements that Pacific Island countries are parties to, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The “talanoa” session was formally closed by SPREP’s Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) Coordinator, Ms Anastacia Amoa-Stowers. Data critical to good environment decision-making, COP27 hears | Pacific Environment (sprep.org)
ACP MEAs Phase 3 Regional Hubs Meet at the Project Steering Committee
The meeting brought together representatives from the European Commission, the OACPS Secretariat, UNEP, FAO and its partners, the African Union, the Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) also the Secretariat of the Noumea Convention, the European Environment Bureau, the Nairobi Convention Secretariat, Abidjan Convention Secretariat and Cartagena Convention Secretariat. Read ACP MEAs Phase 3 Regional Hubs Meet at the Project Steering Committee | Pacific Environment (sprep.org)
Understanding Tools for Protected Area Management Effectiveness in the Pacific.
The goal to effectively manage protected and conserved areas in the Pacific has taken an important step forward with development of the Comparative Analysis of Protected Area Management Effectiveness (PAME) evaluation tools for the region.
Speaking at the launch Dr. Pisupati highlighted the key partnership between the APCMEAs 3 project and the BIOPAMA programme which has facilitated the development of the Comparative Analysis, which he added, was relevant to current initiatives and processes including the 30x30 protected target in relation to the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on plastics, and their regional seas programme.
The PAME Evaluation Tools will help to develop a strategy going forward and continuing to build capacity in the region for management effectiveness of protected and conserved areas. Read more…Understanding tools for Protected Area Management Effectiveness in the Pacific | Pacific Environment (sprep.org)
The Vanuatu State of Environment Report and ACP/MEA 3 Awareness Meeting Participants in Vanuatu.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) throught the Environment Monitoring Governance (EMG) Programme co-facilitated with the Vbnauat Department of Environmental Protection & Conservation (DEPC) form 15-17 August a validation meeting of the Vanuatu State of Environment (SoE) report. The meeting also gives the opportunity for SPREP to brief and make awareness to the Vanuatu Departent of Environmental Protection & Conservation (DEPC) the support formt he ACP/MEa 3 programme on Environmental Impact Assessment how we will engage on important strategic environmetal governance and monitoring issues. This is in line with ACP/MEA 3 support to member countries in strenthening best practices of environment assessment and planning for its member countries. A plan is in place to deliver ta secotr wide traijing for Vanuatu in 2021 with the focus to strenthen integrated environment auditing of development projects in Vanuatu by relevant sectors.