Press Releases
Looking for more press releases? Explore our full press release archive by date to access past announcements, news updates, and media releases published on Vanuatu Environment Week.
Punching above its weight, Pacific leads calls for ambitious targets to end global plastic pollution
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
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June 2, 2023
Q and A with Mr Sefanaia Nawadra, Director-General of SPREP. 1 June 2023, Paris France - The first scientific findings of marine plastic debris were published in 1972 and reported on small plastic particles found in the Sargasso Sea. Ten years...
SPREP project assists Vanuatu Government’s response to twin cyclone disaster
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
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April 28, 2023
21 April, 2023, Port Vila, Vanuatu - Vanuatu was hit by two severe tropical cyclones within 48 hours between 1–3 March, an unprecedented series of climate events for the southwestern Pacific tropical cyclone (TC) basin. Severe TC Judy struck...
Pacific Island Countries Move Together on Sustainable Waste Management Solutions for the Region
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
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May 18, 2023
Pacific Island countries converged in Rarotonga, Cook Islands and reaffirmed their commitments, in a collective voice, echoing the region’s aspirations to implement appropriate and sustainable solutions for their waste management challenges at the...
SWAP places sustainable waste management action on top of agenda at 2023 Steering Committee meeting
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
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April 24, 2023
20 April 2023, Honiara – The third Steering Committee meeting of the Committing to Sustainable Waste Actions in the Pacific (SWAP) Project hosted in the Solomon Islands has concluded with a renewed commitment by the participants to sustainable...
Impact of plastic pollution on Pacific highlighted as France draws global attention to “ticking time bomb”
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
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May 29, 2023
29 May 2023, Paris France - The plight of Pacific countries, where entire communities are at risk from the scourge of the plastic crisis despite contributing less than 1.3 per cent to global plastic statistics, has been highlighted in Paris where...
Asia-Pacific Leaders Rally to Eradicate Malaria
MENAFN
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June 17, 2025
(MENAFN) Urging a united front and immediate action, nations and territories across the Asia-Pacific convened at the 9th Asia Pacific Leaders’ Summit on Malaria Elimination this week, sounding the alarm on growing challenges to malaria eradication...
Simplifying climate change information for communities a key Pacific priority
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
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May 10, 2023
08 May 2023, Nadi Fiji – The Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) is working with eight Pacific countries to enhance and integrate knowledge brokerage on climate change into aspects of the work they are doing in their communities. Knowledge...
Strengthening the capacity of Vanuatu climate officers for a more resilient Vanuatu
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
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April 12, 2023
11 April 2023, Port Vila, Vanuatu – Raising the level of understanding of the various climate drivers in the Pacific and strengthening the capacity and understanding of climate officers within the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department...
Pacific Climate Change Centre supports Knowledge Broker Support Programme Training of Trainers
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
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May 3, 2023
01 May 2023, Suva Fiji - Sixteen participants, including Australian Pacific Climate Alumni Network (APCAN) National Coordinators from Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu benefitted from a four-day...
Cook Islands calls for ambitious targets to reverse and end plastic pollution
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
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April 26, 2023
24 April 2023, Rarotonga, Cook Islands - “Saying No to single-use plastics” is not enough, much more must be done by our global community to address the plastic crisis we now face. Recognising this, the UN Environment Assembly passed a resolution...
SIDE EVENT ON: Perspectives of accelerated climate action:
Government of Samoa
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May 29, 2023
SAMOA, May 29 - Remarks by the Prime Minister Hon Fiame Naomi Mataafa Chair, Excellencies Ladies & Gentlemen SIDS are on the frontline of multiple world crises – including climate change and debt – the most vulnerable countries face chronic...
Traditional knowledge and climate science – a recipe for resilience
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
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April 20, 2023
18 April 2023, Port Vila, Vanuatu – The importance of integrating traditional knowledge into climate science and services was highlighted during a briefing with the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazard’s Department’s Climate Division. It was through...
Progress of work to improve climate change adaptation and mitigation in 15 Pacific countries commended
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
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April 20, 2023
20 April 2023, Suva, Fiji - Whether it is providing water tanks for villages in Papua New Guinea (PNG), tree planting on the Tagabe riverbank in Vanuatu to ensure steady supply of freshwater for communities there or providing support for climate...
Air Vanuatu Restarts Direct Brisbane–luganville Flights
Pacific Tourism Organisation
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June 13, 2023
Air Vanuatu has officially restarted its once-weekly Brisbane–Luganville return flights that directly connect Australia to Vanuatu’s largest island Espiritu Santo in just 2.5 hours. This pivotal event for the people of Vanuatu’s northern islands...
PICOF-12 highlights importance of communicating climate information as Pacific prepares for possible El Niño
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
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April 21, 2023
21 April 2023, Apia – The Pacific has just come out of a triple-dip La Niña event, to an El Niño Watch being declared by four organisations under the Pacific Regional Climate Centre node for long-range forecasting. The recent Pacific Islands...
El Niño watch continues as Pacific Met Services convene 187th Ocean and Climate Online Forum
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
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April 18, 2023
14 April 2023, Port Vila, Vanuatu – The current state of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) was one of the items on the agenda for discussion during the 187th session of the Online Climate and Ocean Forum (OCOF) which was convened this...
Procurement of new weather radar for Vanuatu endorsed by Van-KIRAP Technical Working Group
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
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April 15, 2023
13 April 2023, Port Vila, Vanuatu – The Vanuatu Klaemet Infomesen blong Redy, Adapt mo Protekt (Van-KIRAP) Project Technical Working Group (TWG) today endorsed the procurement of a new weather radar for Vanuatu, which will greatly boost the...
Tuvalu becomes the 17th signatory of the Pacific Leader’s Sustainable Tourism Commitment
Pacific Tourism Organisation
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May 10, 2023
The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) has welcomed Tuvalu as the latest signatory of the Pacific Leader’s Sustainable Tourism Commitment (SOC). The SOC embodies the support of SPTO’s Council of Tourism Ministers in implementing the Pacific...
Republic of the Marshall Islands Signs Pacific Sustainable Tourism Commitment
Pacific Tourism Organisation
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May 25, 2023
The Pacific Tourism Organisation is pleased to confirm the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) as the 18th signatory of the Pacific Leader’s Sustainable Tourism Commitment (SOC). Inspired by the ambitions of the Pacific Sustainable Tourism...
RMI Welcomed as the Latest Signatory of the Pacific Leader’s Sustainable Tourism Commitment
Pacific Tourism Organisation
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May 22, 2023
The Pacific Tourism Organisation is pleased to confirm the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) as the 18th signatory of the Pacific Leader’s Sustainable Tourism Commitment (SOC). Inspired by the ambitions of the Pacific Sustainable Tourism...