‘Utoikamanu is the highest ranking Pacific Island person at the UN

In April, Tonga’s Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu was appointed the United Nations’ High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States and Under Secretary General, making her the highest ranking Pacific Island person at the UN. Ms. ‘Utoikamanu has a wealth of national, regional and international experience in various senior leadership positions. Prior to her latest appointment, she was Chief … Continue reading ‘Utoikamanu is the highest ranking Pacific Island person at the UN

Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner Poet

The poet from the Marshall Islands who moved the world powers to tears

Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner burst onto the world stage through a poetry performance that moved many world leaders to tears at the opening of the United Nations Climate Summit in New York in 2014. The then 25-year-old poet and climate activist demonstrated the impact a poem can have. In a piece titled “Dear Matafele Peinem,” she managed to capture the stark reality of climate change in just … Continue reading The poet from the Marshall Islands who moved the world powers to tears

Samoan girl has been a climate advocate for 8 years, addressed the UN at 14yo

Nineteen-year-old Brianna Fruean has not let age be a deterrent when it comes to advocating for climate change issues in her native Samoa and the wider Pacific. In fact, her youth has served as an advantage when speaking to her peers about the need to take urgent action on an issue that looms large in their lives In addition, she’s emerged as a voice of … Continue reading Samoan girl has been a climate advocate for 8 years, addressed the UN at 14yo

A lawyer wants to give legal rights to the Pacific Ocean

The Institute for Research and Development (IRD) in New caledonia has started a long fight to give a legal personality to the Pacific Ocean. This achievement would give our ocean legal rights, defensible in court against companies, individuals or even countries that are hurting it. Only just introduced to the United Nations in New York, the project could take the form of a international convention. … Continue reading A lawyer wants to give legal rights to the Pacific Ocean

The UN tries to save Tuvalu from climate change

The United Nation just started its plan to save Tuvalu from climate change, a program included in the Green Climate Fund with a budget of 36 million US dollars. The UN wants to spend this money over the next 40 years in the tiny Pacific archipelago of 10 600 people, a country of atolls with an average elevation of 1.8 meters (6 feet). Scientists expect … Continue reading The UN tries to save Tuvalu from climate change