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  • Collection Anamua: Treasures of the Pacific Environment
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  • Collection Waste Management and Pollution Control
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Problem of e-waste continues to grow in the Pacific (audio)
Waste Management and Pollution Control
Available Online

Nolan, Bradley

2020
A new report has found that more than 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste was dumped or burned globally last year, which is the equivalent of 350 cruise ships, and up more than 20 per cent in just five years. The UN's Global E-waste Monitor 2020 also ranked Oceania as the second highest region, per capita, of e-waste, with each person generating 16.1 kilograms on average, it said. Common e-waste items include old mobile phones, batteries, TVs, computers and tablets. But Australia and New Zealand are the leading producers of that e-waste, with people in Pacific countries like Samoa and Tonga estimated to produce 3.1 kilograms per person, and in Fiji and PNG, the figure was just 1.5 kilograms. It's a problematic issue across the globe but in the Pacific, where in many countries there isn't the space for all this dumped technology, problems are looming. The region's peak environment body, SPREP, is working on several projects to tackle the issue. Bradley Nolan, the Project Manager for PacWastePlus, which is funded by the European Union, told Pacific Beat "disposable societies and large incomes" in countries like Australia and New Zealand explain why residents in those countries produce such large quantities of e-waste. And he suggested that Australia and other donor partners may in fact contribute to some of the e-waste in Pacific nations, with equipment such as computers donated when they had reached their end-of-life there. "There have been some incidents where some of the metropolitan countries [ie Australia, New Zealand] when some of their products are at the end of their useful life, say in a government department, has gifted those to countries to help out. "But of course they have less life, so they become an instant e-waste problem when they hit the islands...so aid and the work that people are attempting to do, with great intentions, creates some significant problems at the other end," he said.
United Nations to “Protect Fiji” — Environmental Awareness Key to Major Findings for Australia's State of the Marine Environment report
Biodiversity Conservation, Waste Management and Pollution Control, Anamua: Treasures of the Pacific Environment
Available Online
This United Nations-backed report, hosted by the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in collaboration with Australia’s environmental authorities, highlights critical insights from a comprehensive assessment of Fiji’s marine environment. Key findings include: Urgent need for environmental awareness: Enhanced public understanding is essential to safeguard Fiji’s rich marine resources from threats like marine pollution, coastal habitat destruction, and climate change impacts. Marine pollution pressure: Coastal waters are increasingly burdened by land-based pollutants—plastics, sewage, industrial runoff—and remnant debris from historical events (e.g., WWII wrecks), with contamination affecting marine ecosystems. Habitat degradation: Seagrasses, coral reefs, and mangrove ecosystems face degradation stemming from coastal development, deforestation, sedimentation, and unsustainable use. Climate change and invasive species: Rising sea levels and temperature increase stress marine ecosystems. Invasive species further destabilize native biodiversity and fish stocks. Policy and capacity gaps: Although Fiji is party to major environmental agreements, enforcement and systematic marine monitoring remain inadequate. Collaborative solutions: The report calls for strengthened coordination among UN agencies, SPREP, Fiji’s government, and Australian partners. Recommendations include expanding coastal climate-change observation, improving environmental education, enhancing marine pollution legislation, and bolstering community-based conservation efforts. Together, these insights emphasize that raising environmental awareness and fostering regional cooperation—especially with Australia—are vital to protecting Fiji's marine environment and achieving sustainable development goals.
Environmental Media Training for Representatives from Nine Pacific Island Countries Held in Suva
Environmental Governance, Biodiversity Conservation, Anamua: Treasures of the Pacific Environment
Available Online

Court, Caroline

A regional workshop was organized in Suva, Fiji, aimed at bolstering environmental journalism among media professionals from nine Pacific Island nations. Hosted by prominent environmental organizations, including the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the event aimed to strengthen reporters’ ability to cover complex environmental issues, with an initial focus on climate change The Pacific is acutely vulnerable to environmental threats such as intensifying cyclones, sea-level rise, and coastal flooding, yet regional media remain under-equipped to report these dangers effectively. Better-informed journalism is seen as essential to influence policy, raise community awareness, and support climate adaptation strategies . The curriculum encompassed: Simplifying scientific and technical environmental information for broader audiences, Investigating and sourcing credible data, Crafting impactful narratives for print, radio, digital, and broadcast formats, Networking with climate and environmental experts to deepen reporting quality . Outcomes & Goals Journalists left the training inspired and better prepared, equipped with tools to translate complex climate issues into compelling public stories. The workshop aimed to foster a durable network of informed environmental correspondents across the Pacific, strengthening regional media collaboration and coverage.