Press Releases

Moemoana: A Sustainable Champion for Samoa

Moemoana Safa’ato’a Schwenke is a passionate advocate for preserving cultural heritage as she embarked on a journey in September 2023 at the Teuila Festival, a stage for the annual Miss Samoa Pageant. Using this unique platform for young Samoan...

Sustainable Tourism Development Promoted to Young Leaders

Under an agreement between the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) and the East West Center (EWC), SPTO was privileged to have the opportunity to provide a brief presentation to the April- May 2023 cohort of the Pacific Islands Young Economic...

Transcript of Remarks by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan at the Pacific Islands Fintech Innovation Challenge, 27 July 2022

Good morning everyone, and let me first say on behalf of Singapore that we are delighted (and) we are honoured to be the venue for the Pacific Islands FinTech Innovation Challenge. We would also like to thank Australia for its support for this...

9/19/25 – DEATH OF MONK SEAL UNDERSCORES IMPORTANCE OF RESPONSIBLE FISHING PRACTICES

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR DAWN CHANG CHAIRPERSON DEATH OF MONK SEAL UNDERSCORES IMPORTANCE OF RESPONSIBLE FISHING PRACTICES A close-up reveals the plastic jug tethered to a thick line. Credit: NOAA Fisheries (Permit #24359) HONOLULU – The recent...

9/19/25 – DEATH OF MONK SEAL UNDERSCORES IMPORTANCE OF RESPONSIBLE FISHING PRACTICES

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR DAWN CHANG CHAIRPERSON DEATH OF MONK SEAL UNDERSCORES IMPORTANCE OF RESPONSIBLE FISHING PRACTICES A close-up reveals the plastic jug tethered to a thick line. Credit: NOAA Fisheries (Permit #24359) HONOLULU – The recent...

Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Meeting with Pacific Islands Diplomatic Representatives

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman participated in a talanoa roundtable discussion today with representatives from Pacific Island countries in Wellington, New Zealand. The Deputy Secretary...

Linkages between climate change and plastic pollution explored at COP28

6 December 2023, Dubai, UAE – The plastics pollution crisis is a climate crisis. This message echoed through the halls of the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion on Day Six of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention...

Asia Pacific Plastic Compounding Market Size to Worth USD 77.60 Bn by 2034

Ottawa, Sept. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Asia Pacific plastic compounding market size is estimated at USD 36.78 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach around USD 77.60 billion by 2034, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of...

Devastated by three cyclones in one year, Vanuatu laments impact of triple planetary crisis at plastics treaty talks

16 November 2023, Nairobi Kenya - Vanuatu, the first country in the world to ban plastic straws with the introduction of a single-use plastic regulation, has lent its voice to growing and urgent calls for a global treaty to end the scourge of...

Weather Ready Pacific Decadal Programme of Investment makes a splash at the UN Ocean Conference

1 July 2022, Lisbon Portugal, UNOC 2022 - Pacific solutions developed by Pacific people for Pacific resilience were shared during the second UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal today. The Weather Ready Pacific Decadal Programme of Investment,...

Solomon Islands, newest member of High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, leaves mark in Nairobi

15 November 2023, Nairobi Kenya - Solomon Islands might be the newest member of the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) to End Plastic Pollution but this has not stopped the Pacific nation from taking the global stage at the plastic treaty negotiations...

Palau, as PSIDS Chair, calls for a revolution to end plastic pollution

14 November 2023, Nairobi Kenya - Twenty three million tonnes of plastic are released to the environment every year and half of it ends up in the Pacific Ocean every time. This number is expected to double by 2030 under a business-as-usual...

SPREP and SPTO place sustainable tourism development on centre stage with MOU

11 November 2023, Rarotonga, Cook Islands - The pursuit of sustainable tourism development in the Pacific region, where people and the environment take center stage, has received a tremendous boost with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding...

SPREP enhances Republic of Marshall Islands’ readiness for environmental emergencies

27 October 2023, Majuro - The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is strengthening its commitment to maritime environmental protection by actively supporting the development of a comprehensive National Oil Spill...

Aeronautical Engineers Develop Aircraft to Fight Climate Change Impact

A new aircraft is set to be used by humanitarian organisations to save lives during disasters & fight climate change in the world’s most inaccessible regions. HAMILTON, WAIKATO, NEW ZEALAND, November 29, 2023 /⁨EINPresswire.com⁩/ -- A new...

Pitcairn Islands seeks to improve biodiversity and climate resilience with SPREP Invasive Species Team and PRISMSS partners

October 27, 2023: Following its landmark achievement of establishing one of the world’s largest Marine Protected Area, Pitcairn Island is once again stepping up its commitment to the environment. This time, the small island with a big vision, is...

Solomon Islands challenges World Leaders to Act on Climate Change at COP28

Solomon Islands challenges World Leaders to Act on Climate Change at COP28 Minister Avui addresses World Leaders at the COP28 in Dubai this week The Solomon Islands delegation to the High Level Ministerial Meeting on Urbanization and Climate...

Pacific Island States and International Climate Change Policy

Although Pacific island countries contribute the least to global warming, they are at the frontline of climate change and live with the effects of it on a daily basis. The most substantial impacts of climate change include loss of coastal...

Pacific Tourism Organisation Clinches Top Honour at Commonwealth Innovation Awards 2023 for Pioneering Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) is delighted to announce its prestigious win in the “Promote PARTNERSHIPS for development in the Commonwealth” category at the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Innovation for Sustainable Development Awards...

Pacific Network for Environmental Assessment Webinar Explores Environmental Auditing for Sustainable Pacific Tourism

15 September 2023, Apia Samoa - Promoting sustainable tourism while safeguarding the unique environmental, social and cultural heritage of the Pacific Islands was the central focus of a recent webinar convened by the Secretariat of the Pacific...