13 August 2026, Apia - For the first time in its history, Wallis-et-Futuna is chairing the Fifth Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Executive Board Meeting (EBM).
Wallis-et-Futuna Member of the Environment, Infrastructure and Planning Committee, Mr Jean Paul Mailagi, is at the helm of the 5th SPREP EBM, held in Apia from 12-13 August 2026.
"It is truly an honour and a great source of pride for Wallis-et-Futuna to lead the Troika at the level of SPREP," Mr Mailagi said.
"This is a very important body within the organisation, and we carry this responsibility with great pride." He noted that they aim to bring to the institution the various environmental challenges faced by Wallis-et-Futuna, ensuring that the concerns of smaller territories are adequately represented.
The membership of the Fifth Executive Board comprises of the Troika - the United Kingdom, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna and Fiji as representative for Melanesia, Cook Islands for Polynesia, the Federated States of Micronesia for Micronesia, Australia for the Metropolitan Members, and France for the French-speaking members.
"This meeting allows each small island to address these challenges and explore how we can develop collective solutions," Mr Mailagi explained. "It's truly a collaborative effort among the different islands of the Pacific."
The meeting is an opportunity to review SPREP's work over the past year, current and future strategic priorities, opportunities for new initiatives, funding, and partnerships, and agree on the organisation's 2027 supplementary work programme and budget.
“The board is focused on assessing strategies and past years' performance, and planning for 2027," Mr Mailagi added.
Mr Mailagi's leadership is the culmination of extensive preparation. His delegation visited the SPREP headquarters in May 2026 to familiarise themselves with the Secretariat's core business and governance ahead of the meeting. Describing the appointment as a true honour, he noted the parallel values between Wallis-et-Futuna and SPREP, emphasising the shared priorities of people, land, sea and environment.
"We are truly, deeply happy to be here—especially because this marks the first time Wallis-et-Futuna is chairing this Council," Mr Mailagi said. "We see it not as a privilege, but as a duty—to our people, to our children, and to the entire Pacific family."
SPREP Director General, Mr Sefanaia Nawadra opened the proceedings, highlighting the growing threat of the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, noting that Pacific communities bear the brunt of these impacts despite contributing only 0.01 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
He acknowledged that SPREP's role in supporting Pacific countries to adapt and survive has never been more important.
The fifth SPREP Executive Board Meeting (5EBM) is held at the Pacific Climate Change Centre/SPREP from 12-13 August 2026.
SPREP’s Executive Board includes the Troika of past, present and future chairpersons of the SPREP Meeting, and representatives of Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, Metropolitan, and French speaking Member countries of SPREP.
The 21 Pacific Island Member countries and territories 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, 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, development partners, donors, our CROP family, and stakeholders.
For more information on fifth SPREP Executive Board Meeting, please contact: sprep@sprep.org