Pacific News In Brief For 14 July
A long-anticipated decision from the International Court of Justice on countries responsibilities for climate change is due next week.
Vanuatu and Pacific climate advocates brought the case to the UN in 2023 seeking an opinion from the world court on the legal obligations of states in relation to climate change.
Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat said that a favourable opinion could provide powerful legal tools to support vulnerable nations in need of funding and technology.
The decision is expected to be read out at the Hague on 23 July.
Australia/Paific - summit
Australia's Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen says it is "way beyond time" the United Nations climate meeting (COP) comes to the Southern Hemisphere.
Australia and Turkey are bidding to host COP31 next year.
Bowen told the ABC that Australia as COP president would ensure that the Pacific's issues are front and centre of the agenda.
Concern has been raised about Australia's fossil fuels record in connection to any position as COP host.
The presidents of Palau and Fiji have both voiced their support of Australia hosting.
Tuvalu - geopolitics
Tuvalu has called out China for announcing a flight route that will bring Chinese flights closer to Taiwan.
In a statement, the Tuvalu government said that the newly announced W121 air route will connect the Zhejiang Province to the controversial M503 route along the Taiwanese strait.
M503 is seen widely as an esculation of tensions between the two nations.
Tuvalu government said it stood "firm behind Taiwan" against China, and calling for a peaceful dialogue.
Kiribati - water
The humanitarian organisation Doctors without Borders (MSF) is working to help Kiribati with its water problems.
Recents tests on more than 300 wells on the outer island of Abaiang showed most of the water was unfit to drink.
MSF's Eliza Chang told the ABC they found the bacteria group containing E.coli in more than 9 out of 10 of the tested wells.
Salinity levels in the water are also high.
The Chinese embassy in Kiribati says the China-aid seawater de-salination project is currently installing equipment, and debugging on the main island of Tarawa.
Tokelau 0 parliament
Tokelau's second General Fono (parliamentary session) of the year kicks off Monday.
It is being held on the Ulu-o-Tokelau or titular head of government, Esera Fofō Tuisano's atoll, Fakaofo.
The role rotates annually between the Faipule of Tokelau's three main atolls.
Tokelau has a busy next few months ahead with community consultations on self-determination underway.
Tokelau is a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand.
It will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its relationship with Aotearoa next year.
Northern Marianas - landfill
Plans are in the works to turn an illegal dumpsite on Tinian into a landfill.
Tinian, south of the big island Saipan, does not have a landfill.
Tinian's mayor Edwin Aldan said the Puntan Diablo dumpsite has been part of discussions with the government and the US Department of Defence.
Our CNMI correspondent Mark Rabago said the dumpsite is the only area locals can dispose their rubbish
He said that as the US military build-up on Tinian ramps up, rubbish is now piling up.
Environmental assessments and surveys of the project site are ongoing.
Pacific - heritage
Fiji, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu have submitted three extended continental shelf claims to the United Nations, securing 453,400 square kilometres of shared ocean heritage.
The submissions have been presented by representatives of the three nations and mark a significant step toward strengthening Pacific sovereignty and sustainable resource management.
Fiji's Foreign Affairs secretary Dr Raijeli Taga said that this achievement was about safeguarding the future.
She said that by implementing rights, the wealth beneath the ocean, which contributes to national development will be secured - all while protecting the marine environment.
The Fiji Times reports that it took 15 years for the submissions to reach this stage.
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