AGP Executive Report

El Niño and Fisheries: A very strong El Niño could shift tuna grounds and catch rates across the Pacific into 2027. Kiribati may face flooding and warmer seas, adding pressure on fisheries and island communities. Marine Protection: More than US$25 million in new Pacific conservation funding includes support for Kiribati to identify priority ocean habitats and strengthen maritime oversight. Coastal Losses: In Kiribati, king tides are eroding roads, salting freshwater and flooding food gardens. On Marakei, rising waters have exposed ancestral graves and submerged taro pits, threatening livelihoods and cultural traditions. Resilient Infrastructure: Australia’s US$3 million regional climate package includes protection for the East Micronesia undersea cable landing site in Nanikaai, Tarawa, using nature-based measures alongside infrastructure.

El Niño and Fisheries: A strengthening El Niño could shift tuna grounds and catch rates across the Pacific into 2027. Kiribati may face flooding and warmer seas, adding pressure on fisheries and island communities. Marine Protection: More than US$25 million in Bezos Earth Fund grants will support Pacific conservation, including habitat planning and stronger ocean oversight in Kiribati. Rising Tides: Kiribati minister Ruth Cross Kwansing has highlighted how king tides expose ancestral graves, damage food gardens and contaminate freshwater—losses she says climate finance must recognize. Coastal Resilience: Australia is contributing to work that will protect the East Micronesia cable landing site in Nanikaai, Tarawa, from climate impacts.

Tuna and El Niño: A strengthening El Niño could disrupt Pacific tuna grounds and catches into 2027. Kiribati may also face flooding and warmer seas, adding pressure on fisheries and island economies. Marine Protection: The Bezos Earth Fund is putting more than US$25 million into Pacific conservation, including support for Kiribati to identify priority ocean habitats and improve maritime oversight. Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Australia has announced $3 million for Pacific projects, including protection for the East Micronesia cable landing site at Nanikaai, Tarawa. King Tides and Culture: In Kiribati, rising tides are eroding roads, salting freshwater and exposing ancestral graves. Minister Ruth Cross Kwansing is urging climate finance to recognize losses to culture, identity and community life—not just damage to property.

Kiribati’s Climate Toll: King tides on Marakei are exposing ancestral graves, flooding food gardens and salting freshwater supplies. Minister Ruth Cross Kwansing says climate finance must recognize losses to culture and community, not just damaged property. Resilience Funding: Kiribati is urging Pacific leaders to back a fund that reimburses islands after urgent protection projects are built, avoiding delays while communities face rising seas and erosion. Australia has also announced $3 million for Pacific infrastructure resilience, including protection for a telecommunications cable landing site in Tarawa. Nikumaroro Wildlife: An expedition has sailed from Tarawa to search for Amelia Earhart’s plane on Nikumaroro, home to coconut crabs that hunt birds and rats.

Clean Water: UNICEF Aotearoa’s Pacific ‘Fits Day fundraiser will support water, sanitation and climate-resilient systems in Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Cultural Loss: Kiribati minister Ruth Cross Kwansing says climate finance must recognize losses beyond damaged homes: king tides on Marakei have exposed ancestral graves, flooded food gardens and contaminated freshwater. She is also pushing for a fund that reimburses island states after urgent protection work is done, instead of making communities wait through lengthy funding processes. Coastal Resilience: Australia announced $3 million for Pacific infrastructure protection, including nature-based measures and safeguards for the East Micronesia cable landing site at Nanikaai, Tarawa. Climate Finance: At Pre-COP31, Pacific leaders called for more adaptation funding; Fiji pledged US$10 million to the Pacific Resilience Facility.

Cultural Loss on the Front Line: Kiribati Minister Ruth Cross Kwansing has urged climate funders to recognize losses that money cannot easily measure. On Marakei, king tides are exposing ancestral graves, flooding food gardens and salting freshwater. Protecting Tarawa’s Coast: Australia has announced A$3 million for Pacific climate resilience, including nature-based measures and protection for the East Micronesia Cable landing site in Nanikaai, Tarawa. Water for Communities: A UNICEF Aotearoa workplace fundraiser will support clean water, sanitation and climate-resilient water systems in Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Climate Finance: Kiribati is pushing for a fund that reimburses urgent protection work after it is built, as leaders press wealthy nations to turn climate pledges into practical support. Ocean Conservation: The Bezos Earth Fund has committed more than US$25 million for conservation projects across five Pacific nations, including Kiribati; the grants cover more than 625,000 square miles of ocean.

Cultural Loss: Kiribati Minister Ruth Cross Kwansing urged climate funders to recognize losses beyond homes and roads, as king tides expose ancestral graves, destroy food gardens and threaten cultural traditions on Marakei. Resilient Infrastructure: Australia announced $3 million for Pacific climate protection, including work at the East Micronesia Cable landing site in Nanikaai, Tarawa, to help safeguard critical infrastructure from coastal threats. Climate Finance: Kiribati is pushing for a fund that reimburses urgent protection projects after they are built, arguing slow funding processes cannot keep pace with rising seas, saltwater-contaminated wells and eroding shores. Safe Water: A UNICEF Aotearoa workplace fundraiser will support clean water, sanitation and climate-resilient water systems in Kiribati and two other Pacific nations.

Water Security: UNICEF Aotearoa’s Pacific ‘Fits Day fundraiser will support clean water, sanitation and climate-resilient water systems in Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, where rising seas and drought are straining supplies. Resilient Infrastructure: Australia is investing A$3 million in Pacific projects, including protection for the East Micronesia undersea cable landing site at Nanikaai, Tarawa. Climate Finance: At Pre-COP31, Kiribati Minister Ruth Cross Kwansing urged leaders to treat climate funding as reparation and back a system that reimburses islands after urgent protection works are built. Fiji pledged US$10 million to the Pacific Resilience Facility, which aims to raise US$500 million. Ocean Conservation: The Bezos Earth Fund announced more than US$25 million for conservation across five Pacific nations, including Kiribati, as part of a regional push to protect ocean ecosystems.

Resilient Infrastructure: Australia is putting A$3 million into Pacific coastal resilience, including protection for the East Micronesia Cable landing site in Nanikaai, Tarawa. Plans combine nature-based measures such as mangrove planting with engineered structures. Climate Finance: Kiribati’s Ruth Cross Kwansing is calling for a fund that reimburses islands after urgent protection works are built, arguing that current funding processes move too slowly as king tides erode coasts and contaminate wells. At Pre-COP31, she also said climate finance should be treated as reparation. Atoll Communities: On Marakei, rising water has flooded a babai pit, damaged roads and exposed ancestral graves, showing the toll of saltwater intrusion and coastal erosion on food, freshwater and cultural ties. Ocean Conservation: The Bezos Earth Fund announced more than $25 million for Pacific ocean projects across five nations, including Kiribati, as part of a push to protect 30% of the region’s waters by 2030.

Coastal Resilience: Australia is putting A$3 million into climate-protective infrastructure across four Pacific countries, including the East Micronesia cable landing site in Nanikaai, Tarawa. The work combines nature-based measures such as mangrove planting with structures like seawalls. Climate Finance: At Pre-COP31, Kiribati is pushing for a system that reimburses island states after urgent adaptation projects are built and verified, rather than leaving communities waiting through lengthy funding processes. Rising Tides: On Marakei, king tides have eroded roads, flooded ancestral graves and babai gardens, and salted freshwater supplies — losses Kiribati’s minister says climate finance must address. Ocean Protection: New Bezos Earth Fund grants include support for protecting important marine habitats in Kiribati, as part of a regional effort to safeguard Pacific waters.

Climate Finance: Pacific leaders are urging wealthy nations to turn climate pledges into practical support, while Fiji has committed US$10 million to the regional Pacific Resilience Facility. Kiribati is pushing for a new system to reimburse island states within 90 days for urgent, verified protection works. Life on the Frontline: Kiribati Minister Ruth Cross Kwansing says climate funding should be treated as reparation. On Marakei, king tides have flooded homes, damaged crops and wells, and exposed ancestral graves—threatening both livelihoods and cultural ties to land. Coastal Protection: Australia is investing A$3 million in work to protect Pacific infrastructure, including the undersea cable landing site at Nanikaai, Tarawa, using mangrove planting and other measures alongside engineered defences. Ocean Conservation: The Bezos Earth Fund has announced more than US$25 million for Pacific marine projects, including support to identify and protect important ocean habitats in Kiribati.

Atoll Communities: On Marakei, king tides have flooded ancestral graves, damaged babai gardens and salted freshwater, leaving elder Nei Tikaeita asking how the losses to land, food and culture can be repaired. Climate Finance: Naoero President David Adeang urged leaders at Pre-COP31 to turn pledges into funding, emissions cuts and practical help. Kiribati Minister Ruth Cross Kwansing is pushing for a system that reimburses island nations after urgent adaptation work is completed, rather than making communities wait through lengthy funding processes. Coastal Resilience: Fiji pledged US$10 million to the Pacific Resilience Facility over five years. Australia also announced A$3 million for climate-resilient infrastructure, including the East Micronesia Cable landing site in Tarawa, with measures such as mangrove planting and erosion protection.

Pacific Pre-COP31 Push: Australia announced AU$3m for Pacific road and communications projects in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Kiribati and Tuvalu, framed as help for coastal erosion and rising seas ahead of COP31 in Turkey. Climate Finance as Reparation: Kiribati’s Ruth Cross Kwansing told leaders to stop “cap in hand” requests and treat climate money as reparation, while also backing a new ex-post reimbursement idea that pays islands back after approved protection works are built. Coal and Accountability: A Pacific youth climate advocate urged Australia to apply the ICJ climate ruling at home first, calling out ongoing coal approvals as leaders meet in Nadi. Heat’s Human Cost: The UN climate chief warned that extreme heat is linked to pregnancy complications, including premature births, as Fiji and Tuvalu host Pre-COP talks. Disability Justice: Pacific disability advocates demanded direct seats in climate decisions and finance, warning exclusion is making sea-level rise, cyclones and evacuation planning more dangerous for people with disabilities. Kiribati Survival and Ocean Action: Kiribati’s push for FIFA recognition before the islands disappear underscores the urgency of sea-level rise, while the Bezos Earth Fund added $25m for ocean conservation across Kiribati and four other Pacific nations.

Pre-COP31 Climate Finance Access: A Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub adviser (and former Kiribati adviser) is in Nadi pushing a shift from climate plans to investable projects—so small island states can turn NDCs and NAPs into capital, not just paperwork. Disability Justice in Climate Decisions: Pacific disability advocates at the Fiji Pre-COP31 stakeholder programme are demanding direct seats at the climate finance table, warning that inaccessible evacuation planning, infrastructure and services are leaving people with disabilities exposed to sea-level rise, cyclones and water insecurity. Heat’s Human Cost: The UN climate chief says extreme heat is increasingly linked to premature births and other pregnancy complications, as Fiji and Tuvalu host talks ahead of COP31. Kiribati’s “Re-engineered” Funding Ask: Kiribati is urging leaders to back an ex-post climate finance window that reimburses islands after urgent protection works are completed and verified—responding to king tides, erosion and saltwater intrusion that outpace slow funding processes. Pacific Survival and 1.5°C: Negotiators are renewing pressure to hold the line on 1.5°C, warning that overshoot would mean recurrent national crises for atoll states. Ocean Conservation Grants: The Bezos Earth Fund announced $25M+ for ocean protection across Kiribati and four other Pacific nations, aiming to safeguard habitats and support longer-term management.

Heat and health risks: UN climate chief Simon Stiell says extreme heat during pregnancy is increasingly linked to premature births, stillbirths, low birth weight and maternal complications, as Fiji and Tuvalu host Pre-COP31 talks ahead of COP31. Climate finance reform for atolls: Kiribati is pushing a “re-engineered” climate finance window that reimburses small island states after they complete urgent protection works—because today’s funding can’t move fast enough for sea-level rise, king tides, erosion and saltwater intrusion. Pacific push for tangible COP outcomes: Pacific leaders at Pre-COP31 are demanding “tangible outcomes” and warning negotiators not to accept weak deals, with calls to hold the 1.5°C line and link just transition to real money. Ocean protection funding: The Bezos Earth Fund announced $25M+ in new ocean conservation grants across Cook Islands, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Vanuatu, supporting protection efforts over 625,000+ square miles and backing longer-term marine management. Kiribati in the spotlight: A new Amelia Earhart search expedition is set to investigate the “Taraia Object” on Nikumaroro, part of Kiribati, as researchers prepare for field work.

Pre-COP31 Pressure on Climate Finance: Fiji opened UN pre-COP talks in Nadi urging a “just transition” and real climate funding, warning adaptation needs far outstrip what’s available. Kiribati Pushes Faster, Fairer Funding: Kiribati ministers say COP31 must back an ex-post climate finance “reimbursement” window that pays small island states after protection works are built and verified—because today’s procedures are too slow for sea-level rise, king tides, erosion, and saltwater-ruined wells. Heat Threats to Mothers and Babies: UN leaders warned that extreme heat during pregnancy is linked to premature birth and other complications, as Pacific talks spotlight health impacts alongside rising seas and coral bleaching. Pacific Survival at 1.5°C: Pacific negotiators are urging leaders to hold the line on 1.5°C and reject weak outcomes, arguing overshoot will turn disasters into persistent national crises. Ocean Protection Grants for Kiribati and Neighbours: The Bezos Earth Fund announced $25M+ for ocean conservation across five Pacific island nations, including Kiribati, supporting habitat protection and high-seas planning under the UN High Seas Treaty. Kiribati Climate Finance “Re-engineer” Plan: Cabinet approved a mechanism to fund urgent adaptation first, then reimburse within 90 days—aimed at getting money to frontline communities on time.