NEW YORK, 28 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SPREP)—For many countries, climate targets are policy goals. For Pacific Island nations, they are a matter of survival. That message echoed throughout the ‘Defending 1.5°C in an Age of Instability: Science, Strategy and Global Solutions,’ event hosted by Climate Analytics during New York Climate Week. Scientists, policymakers and climate advocates […]
Tag: Small island developing states
Posted inTop Stories
‘The Pacific is our home, not a theatre for geopolitical competition’: Forum Chair Whipps
NEW YORK, 24 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Palau President and Forum Chair, Surangel Whipps Jr has warned that the Pacific must not be treated as a theatre for geopolitical competition, calling for respect for Pacific sovereignty, international law and the region’s right to determine its own future. Delivering Palau’s High-Level Statement at the 81st United Nations […]
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UN sea-level rise report launched in Palau, calls for urgent action, stronger climate finance
By: L.N. Reklai KOROR, Palau — “They should not be asked to surrender their land or their future because others failed to cut their emissions.” That message from United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed resonated strongly in Palau on Aug. 31 as the United Nations launched its report on sea-level rise at the Palau International […]
Posted inOpinion
Do not let geopolitical disputes hijack the Blue Pacific: The 2026 Pacific Islands Forum Leader Meeting must return to its original commitment to “unity”
By Oliver Brown, Independent political analyst SYDNEY, 25 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS) — In 2026, the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leader Meeting (PIFLM) will kick off in Palau. Under the theme “Building Economies: Life, Action, Unity (BELAU)”, PIFLM carries the region’s deep aspirations for green transformation, climate change response, and implementation of the 2050 Strategy for […]
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Palau Addresses Climate Mobility at Berlin Forum
By: Laurel Marewibuel KOROR, Palau – Palau is bringing its voice to the global stage on climate mobility as President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. participated in the Berlin Climate Mobility Forum in Germany on June 18, 2026. During the forum, Whipps joined other heads of state in delivering opening remarks, emphasising the urgency of addressing […]
Posted inOpinion
Why the BBNJ Agreement Matters to Every Palauan
For small island but big ocean states (BOS) like Palau, where the ocean is not just a resource but a way of life, decisions made in United Nations conference rooms in New York carry real consequences for our people, our livelihoods, and our future. Ratifying the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement is not just […]