15 December 2025, Apia - The efforts by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and Pacific countries to strengthen the protection of natural resources and the environment, through the Noumea Convention, have been bolstered by the Government of Australia.
Through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, funding support of AUD$350,000 has been provided to the Secretariat to assist with implementation of activities under the Noumea Convention Workplan and Budget.
The Workplan and Budget, endorsed and approved by Noumea Convention Parties during the 18th Conference of the Parties (COP) Meeting to the Noumea Convention in August 2025, aim to elevate the work of the Convention, to enhance awareness and implementation, and to strengthen regional cooperation in safeguarding our environment.
The Chair of the 18th COP of the Noumea Convention and Director of Nauru’s Department of Environment, Management and Agriculture, Mr Bryan Star, welcomed Australia’s support.
" The Parties are grateful for this contribution,” he said. “This generous support will strengthen our core funding as well as replenish our activities budget, enabling us to undertake longer-term planning for the work of the Noumea Convention.
“This contribution is testament to Australia's commitment to our region and demonstrates their leadership towards the work we undertake for an environmentally sustainable Pacific."
The Noumea Convention , or the Convention for the Protection of Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region, is a multilateral comprehensive umbrella agreement for the protection, management and development of the marine and costal environment.
Being part of UNEP’s Regional Seas Programme, it represents the legal framework of the Action Plan for managing the Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific adopted in 1982 on behalf of the South Pacific Conference on Human Environment.
Australia’s Minister for the Environment and Water, Hon Murray Watt recognised the ongoing work of the SPREP to support activities under the Noumea Convention.
“The Australian Government is committed to working with our Pacific partners to take ongoing environmental action across the region,” Minister Watt said.
“As a region, we share an ocean and a future. It’s important that we continue to work cooperatively to combat climate change, prevent biodiversity loss and reduce pollution for generations to come.”
The 12 contracting parties to the Noumea Convention are Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and the United States.
Tuvalu signed the Noumea Convention in 1987 and in 2025 its decision to formally ratify marked a significant milestone for the country and the wider Pacific region.
SPREP Director of Legal Services and Governing Bodies Department, Mr Clark Peteru, echoed the sentiments expressed by Mr Star, noting that the funding would greatly assist with the development of a Communications Plan as well as Finance Strategy which are pivotal in raising the visibility of the Convention and ensuring its long-term sustainability.
He said the funding is critical to support the Noumea Convention.
“We wish to acknowledge with appreciation the support of Australia in the implementation of the Workplan which has greatly contributed to advancing our shared goals and objectives of the Noumea Convention,” he said.
“The contributions by parties only support the COP meeting logistics and travel. There is no funding for activities. The financial support from Australia will therefore enable the Secretariat to carry out the implementation of activities as approved by the Parties.”