Press Releases

Tuvalu hosts Fourth Clean Pacific Roundtable

3 August 2024, Funafuti Tuvalu - The Government and the people of Tuvalu have embraced the opportunity to host the Fourth Clean Pacific Roundtable (4CPRT) at the Rt. Hon. Dr Sir Tomasi Puapua Convention Centre (TPCC), Funafuti, from 5 – 9 August...

Bridge to Busan Declaration open for signing at Plastics Treaty talks

29 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - Today at INC4 over two dozen countries have signed on to the Bridge to Busan Declaration. Launched at the Plastics Treaty negotiations, it invigorates the call for sustainable production levels of primary plastic...

Trusted Science must ground plastics treaty negotiations - Scientists Coalition

28 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - Scientific evidence shows that plastics and associated chemicals, including some bio-based plastics, are destabilising the biosphere, harming the natural environment and living organisms including humans, and...

Pacific adds voice as attention turns to proposed intersession work to advance plastics treaty development

28 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - As the clock ticks towards the final hours of the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine...

Pacific negotiators feel the pressure as INC ramps up work to meet deadline

28 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - Delegates from 14 Pacific countries advocating their national and regional priorities at the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) to develop an international legally binding...

Voices of Pacific Women: Marjorie Wells

Negotiating a Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution including in the Marine Environment 29 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - Stepping into deep shoes at the Plastics Treaty now underway, this Pacific Islands women negotiator is showing she can...

Three-point Q and A with Chair of the Pacific Small Islands Developing States H.E Ambassador Odo Tevi

21 April 2024, Ottawa, Canada - The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-4), is taking place from 23 to...

Pacific Islands calls on the plastic treaty to include legally binding obligations and implementing mechanisms to address legacy plastics

26 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - The plastics treaty needs to include legally binding obligations that cover the full lifecycle of plastics including addressing legacy plastic already in the marine environment. The point was raised by Samoa, as the...

Voices of Pacific Women: Diana Hinge Salili

Negotiating a Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution including in the Marine Environment 24 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - Seeing this Pacific Island woman still active in the UN negotiation space is rewarding given the first time she was...

Partnerships formalised at Plastics Treaty talks to empower a resilient Cook Islands

25 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - Enhancing Cook Islands capacity and learning opportunities when it comes to science, environment and legal policy is at the core of a partnership between the National Environment Service and Monash University in...

Pacific Islands region waste management challenges under the microscope at Fourth Clean Pacific Roundtable

5 August 2024, Funafuti Tuvalu - Officials and delegates at the Fourth Clean Pacific Roundtable (4CPRT) have been urged to develop tailor-made waste disposal and management measures that are of practical use and application to circumstances in...

Three-point Q and A with Palau’s Chief Negotiator Ms Gwen Sisior

The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-4), is taking place from 23 to 29 April 2024 in Ottawa, Canada....

FSM advocates for a dedicated multilateral fund for plastics to ensure the effective compliance and implementation of the future treaty

The Pacific is disproportionately affected by the global plastic pollution, contributing less than 1.3 percent but our ocean is inundated with bulk of the world’s transboundary washed away plastics which has serious negative environmental, health,...

Voices of Pacific Women: Moe Saitala Paulo

Negotiating a Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution including in the Marine Environment The Fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committing for a Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution including in the Marine...

Members of the Alliance of Small Island States comb through revised draft text of plastics treaty on eve of INC-4

18 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - Pacific members of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) have joined the group’s member states in Ottawa, Canada, to comb through the revised draft text of the international legally binding instrument on...

Midway INC-4 update: Contact groups work to streamline revised draft text

26 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-4) in Ottawa Canada has reached...

Vanuatu as PSIDS Chair calls for stronger commitment to plastics treaty in build up to INC-4

17 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - Delegates from 14 Pacific countries have descended upon Ottawa, Canada, to finalise preparations for the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding...

Tonga on the path to phasing out single-use plastics, recognises the importance of national actions in meeting future plastics treaty obligations

19 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - Despite the challenges associated with being a small island developing state, the Kingdom of Tonga is making significant strides towards addressing the very visible problem of plastics. Tonga will soon finalise a...

INC Chair expresses optimism for Ottawa negotiations to end with an agreed text

20 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - The Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso, has...

How the Kingdom of Tonga is dealing with the scourge of End of Life Vehicles

6 August 2024, Funafuti Tuvalu - The mountain of End of Life Vehicles (ELVs) is an imposing challenge for the Kingdom of Tonga. Statistics show that the main island of Tongatapu has accumulated more than 30,000 ELVs over the years – and with more...