2 September 2025, Apia - Vanuatu has assumed the chairpersonship of the Thirty Second Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Meeting of Officials currently underway in Apia, Samoa.
Mr David Gibson, Director General of Vanuatu’s Ministry of Climate Change, takes over from Ms Billie Selby, Chair of SPREP’s Fourth Executive Board Meeting and the United Kingdom’s Pacific Climate and Energy Counsellor at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Mr. Gibson’s appointment highlights Vanuatu’s continued leadership in regional environmental diplomacy.
The country previously served as the Chair of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) in 2024 before handing over to Tuvalu in 2025.
Its new role at SPREP reinforces a sustained commitment to championing Pacific priorities on the international stage.
“It is an honour for Vanuatu to assume the chairpersonship of the 32nd SPREP Meeting,” said Mr Gibson. “This role is a collective opportunity for all Pacific nations to amplify our voices and protect the environment that sustains our cultures, our economies, and our future.
“As Chair, I will work to ensure SPREP remains one of the platforms where our priorities are advanced with urgency, ambition, and unity.”
The meeting held from 2-5 September 2025, brings together environment officials from SPREP’s 21 Pacific Island members and five metropolitan members, alongside partners and observers. The theme this year is ‘Sustaining our Pacific Environment in Harmony with our Cultures’ reflecting the deep ties between environmental stewardship and traditional Pacific knowledge.
The transition of the SPREP chairpersonship to Vanuatu signals growing momentum among Pacific Island nations to lead from the front on global environmental issues.
With a strong legacy of climate advocacy, most recently seen in its leadership on climate justice and legal initiatives, Vanuatu is well-positioned to guide SPREP through a pivotal year for the Pacific environment.
The Thirty second SPREP Meeting of Officials (SM32) and associated meetings are taking place at Sheraton Aggie Grey’s Hotel & Bungalows in Samoa, from 1-5 September.
Guided by the theme “Sustaining our Pacific Environment in Harmony with our Cultures”, the SM32 and associated meetings bring together SPREP Members to discuss strategic issues pertaining to the organisation, and to approve the 2026-2027 Work Programme and Budget.
The 21 Pacific Island Members of SPREP are: American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna. The five Metropolitan members of SPREP are: Australia, France, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States of America.
In our efforts to fulfil our vision of ‘a resilient Pacific environment, sustaining our livelihoods and natural heritage in harmony with our cultures’, SPREP is extremely grateful to our valued Members, partners, donors, our CROP family, and stakeholders.
For more information on the 32SM, visit https://www.sprep.org/sprep-meeting/2025/32nd-meeting-of-officials or contact [email protected]