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 Niue Earth Watch.

Solomon Islands calls for global plastic production reduction, plans national plastic ban
31 May 2023, Paris France - The pristine beaches, vibrant forests and colourful reefs of 992 islands of the Solomon Islands are threatened by increasing plastic litter arriving on its shores, and from discarded plastic waste locally. In the...

Need for independent science during plastic treaty negotiations
2 June 2023, Paris France - Poor science heard during the negotiations for a new Plastics Treaty has caused concern for the Scientists Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty. A group of approximately 240 scientists representing over 250...

Kiribati calls for a strong global commitment to upstream measures to solve the plastic crisis
1 June 2023, Paris France – Thirty-three coral atolls and islands are dispersed among the three groups that form Kiribati, which are the Gilbert, Line, and Phoenix islands. Covering a land area of 810km2, the island groups are spread over a vast...

The Pacific Islands articulate their asks in the new Plastic Treaty
1 June 2023, Paris France - Many of us know it as just ‘plastic’, or ‘single-use plastic’ or even ‘micro-plastics’ but for those now negotiating a plastic treaty they know it as plastic polymers, “virgin” plastics and even “secondary” plastics....

Tuvalu shares uphill battle with plastic waste as INC-2 gets underway
29 May 2023, Paris France - Of the 26 square kilometers of landmass that make up the Pacific Island of Tuvalu, 11 acres are taken up by their dumpsite. The space occupied by the dumpsite will continue to grow until a solution has been found....

STATEMENT FOR THE PRIME MINISTER OF SAMOA, HON. FIAME NAOMI MATAAFA FOR THE 2023 UNITED NATIONS DAY 24 OCTOBER 2023, ONE UN HOUSE, TUANAIMATO
SAMOA, October 25 - Pastor Vui Sebastien Mariner Themba Kalua, UN Resident Coordinator for Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau Members of the diplomatic corps Heads of Government Ministries and Enterprises, Civil Societies and NGOs Ladies and...

La Niña impacts felt throughout the Pacific
Flooding. Droughts. Landslides. Storm surges. Coastal Inundation These were some of the impacts of a triple-dip La Niña event, which was declared for the Pacific last year. A triple-dip La Niña means that the system developed three years in a row....

Tourism practitioners from Island destinations deliberate on critical challenges and opportunities for a better type of tourism
The second convening of the Communities of Practice for Sustainable and Regenerative Tourism and Climate Data was held 23rd – 25th April in Honolulu, Hawaii. Organised by the Local2030 Islands Network and funded by the National Oceanic and...

The United States’ Enduring Commitment to the Indo-Pacific: Marking Two Years Since the Release of the Administration’s Indo-Pacific Strategy
FACT SHEET OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FEBRUARY 9, 2024 The United States is an Indo-Pacific nation. As the most dynamic and fastest-growing region on earth, the Indo-Pacific is an essential driver of America’s future security and prosperity. The...

Mosquito-borne Illnesses
Outbreaks of mosquito-borne illnesses are common in the tropical and sub-tropical climates in many Pacific Islands, in North Queensland (Australia), Asia (including India), tropical Africa and Latin/South America. West Nile virus is commonly found...

Progressing the Waigani Convention for the Pacific
The Ninth Meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC9) of the Waigani Convention was convened virtually on 9 February 2023. Present at the meeting which elected the Cook Islands as Chair, Federated States of Micronesia as...

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE – Green transformation of transport sector in Samoa receives major boost with mass donation of 76 EVs from UNDP to the Government of Samoa
SAMOA, October 3 - 03 October 2024 Apia, SAMOA – Seventy-six electric vehicles (EVs) were handed over to the Government of Samoa earlier today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), thanks to a major regional project that Samoa is...

Solomon Islands takes on the President role for the Waigani Convention
Apia, Samoa – (7th September 2023) The 12th Conference of the Parties to the Waigani Convention met on Friday 1st September 2023 at the Taumesina Island Resort, Apia, Samoa. Representing the Solomon Islands at the meeting is the Deputy Director of...

French Polynesia announces Coral Reef Protection Plan at Ocean Conference
01 July 2022, Lisbon Portugal, UNOC2022 - The Government of French Polynesia has announced its Coral Reef Protection plan, which aims to protect all coral species this year and then, by 2030, all its coral ecosystems. The announcement was made by...

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,...

Pacific Tourism Organisation Unveils Ground-breaking Data Training Program in Solomon Islands
In a significant milestone, the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) launched the Pacific Tourism Data Initiative (PTDI) and introduced the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Indicators Framework training in the Solomon Islands in February. Spearheaded by...

Joint Media Release – REAPing the benefits of creating early awareness of waste management and recovery in schools
28 August 2024 Apia, Samoa – The REAP, or Recover-Enrich-Appreciate-Prosper education programme, and The Bag that Builds (TBTB) initiative, are two waste management and recovery programmes that were piloted in 12 local schools with funding from...

South Pacific Pocket Guide Announces Sponsorship of SPTE 2024
New Zealand – 14th Feb 2024 – South Pacific Pocket Guide, a leader in online travel guides for the South Pacific nations, including Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, the Cook Islands and Niue, is thrilled to announce its sponsorship of the South Pacific Tourism...

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL PREPARED REMARKS FOR PRESS ENCOUNTER AT UN HOUSE
Apia, Samoa 23rd August 2024 Talofa, I thank the government and people of Samoa for their warm welcome and exceptional hospitality. It is a privilege to visit this beautiful island. To experience its rich culture. And to witness both its immense...

17 November 2023: The Week in Australian Foreign Affairs
This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese at PIF, Falepili Union with Tuvalu announced, Albanese attends APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, Marles in Indonesia, diplomatic announcements, Judge Charlesworth re-elected to ICJ, and more. Prime...