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NZ Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Not only are rising seas causing people to leave, but warming waters are forcing out tuna
By morning's end, the pair had caught eight tuna - a haul far smaller than when Petaia's father taught him to fish 30 years earlier. 'We have to spend longer and go farther to get them,' the 48-year-old said as the fishermen unloaded their catch. 'I'm not sure there will be any tuna left by the time I'm my uncle's age,' added Smoliner, 22. Tuna is a pillar of life in the Pacific, where for centuries people have braved the ocean to bring back yellowfin, skipjack, bigeye and albacore for their families. In recent decades, as global demand for tuna has soared, Pacific Island nations including Tuvalu have propped up their struggling economies by selling licences to allow international fishing companies to trawl their vast exclusive economic zones. These seas provide as much as one-third of the world's tuna supply. But climate change is warming the world's oceans at an accelerating rate, threatening livelihoods. Scientists predict that climate change will push tuna away from Pacific Island nations and towards the high seas, where wealthier countries with large fishing fleets - China, Japan, South Korea and the United States - will catch them without paying licence fees. It is yet another climate danger for a country - population 10,000 - whose existence is already threatened by rising seas, increasingly powerful storms, and a potential exodus of people. 'It's ironic that the ocean, which has been the sustainer of our livelihood and economy, suddenly poses all these threats to us,' Tuvalu's Prime Minister, Feleti Teo, said in an interview here. Ranol Smoliner, right, and his uncle Kauaka Petaia fish for tuna in the Pacific Ocean near Funafuti, Tuvalu, in early April. Photo / Carolyn Van Houten, the Washington Post This low-lying atoll nation has become a premonition of climate change. Its leaders have made desperate pleas - including one delivered while thigh-deep in water - about the existential threat of rising sea levels. The potential exodus of fish threatens to strip Tuvalu and other Pacific Island nations of the very money they need to fight the impacts of global warming. About 60% of Tuvalu's locally generated government revenue comes from fees foreign countries pay to fish for tuna in its waters, Teo said. That revenue has plunged by about 40% over the past five or so years, denting the tiny nation's overall budget by almost 6%. Scientists say it's hard to know how much of that recent drop is due to climate change as opposed to natural migration linked to ocean cycles. But scientific modelling suggests Tuvalu could lose one-quarter of its tuna by 2050. Efforts are under way to help Tuvalu and 13 of its neighbours track how tuna populations are shifting and to demand remuneration. They were recently awarded more than US$100 million ($166m) from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to help adapt. 'Pacific Island countries are fighting hard to establish our rights to be compensated for fish that are caught in the high seas,' Teo said. 'If we are able to definitively assert that the stock that used to occur in our EEZ is now in the high seas as a result of climate change, then that will strengthen our case.' Warming waters are also bleaching local corals, depleting reef fish that Tuvaluans depend on for food. Some of the fund grant will go towards fish aggregation devices: floating structures that help lure larger ocean fish, including tuna, closer to shore for locals to catch. Coral bleaching also disrupts the natural wave protection of atolls like Tuvalu and the replenishment of their shores, said Arthur Webb, who led the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project to reclaim swathes of desperately needed land in the capital. Each day, a dredging machine in Funafuti's lagoon sucks up sand and pumps it onto reclaimed areas. Sand is also pumped into large bags that are stacked to form protective seawalls. The new land is left to settle before building, which has yet to begin. Tuvalu's ring-shaped land mass covers only 26sqkm and is less than 1.5km across at its widest point, sometimes narrowing to a mere 18m. Photo / Carolyn Van Houten, the Washington Post Tuvalu is roughly 1.5m above mean sea level. Its waters are now rising by about 2.5cm every five years - well above the global average - and estimated to reach 60 to 90cm by 2100, according to Moritz Wandres, an oceanographer with the Pacific Community. By 2060, once-in-50-year floods are predicted to occur every five years, rendering Tuvalu uninhabitable without large-scale adaptation efforts, Wandres said. King tides already routinely inundate much of Funafuti, where motorbikes splash through the water seeping up through the sandy ground. Tuvalu is preparing. It has amended its constitution to protect its statehood and maritime zones, even if it no longer has any land. And it announced a plan to clone itself in the metaverse, preserving its history and culture online. In 2023, Australia provided a more tangible escape plan when it created special visas, at least in part, to help up to 280 Tuvaluans per year escape the wrath of climate change. More than 80% of Tuvalu's population - or 8750 people - has applied for the visa, according to official Australian figures released last week. The predicted decline in tuna will only hasten the outflux. 'This is our only resource,' said Laitailiu Seono, a Fisheries Department officer, as he carved up tuna to be dried and sold. 'That's why we really want to look after them. No fish, no job.' Compounding Tuvalu's anxieties, the US Trump Administration has dealt Pacific Island nations another blow, suspending US$60m per year in South Pacific Tuna Treaty funds for the region - part of a long-standing deal to guarantee US fishing access. During his presidency, Joe Biden promised to double the tuna treaty funds in a bid to counteract China's efforts to woo Pacific Island countries. Instead, Teo said, Tuvalu had yet to receive roughly US$7m it had been counting on: 'A big hole in our projected revenue'. Children play on a seawall surrounding reclaimed land in Funafuti. Tuvalu, a low-lying island nation endangered by rising seas, is building up swathes of land for housing, even as many inhabitants contemplate leaving. Photo / Carolyn Van Houten, the Washington Post At the same time, President Donald Trump's decision to open up the 400,000-square-mile (1,100,000sqkm) Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument to commercial fishing suggested he could scrap the treaty altogether. Like other Trump Administration moves - pulling out of the Paris climate agreement, cutting US Agency for International Development funding and climate financing, and potentially putting travel restrictions on some Pacific countries, including Tuvalu - abandoning the treaty would hurt America's strategic interests and boost that of its stated rival, China, said Alan Tidwell, director of the Centre for Australian, New Zealand, and Pacific Studies at Georgetown University in the US. 'If the US pulls out totally from the Pacific, then someone has to fill that role,' agreed Teo, whose nation is one of only three in the region that still recognise Taiwan instead of China. 'And we know who is eager.' A State Department spokesperson said in an emailed statement that the department 'will continue … to align its activities and programmes with the foreign policy priorities of the president and the secretary.' When Kauaka Petaia returned to shore, his son Siuele was there to help him unload the tuna. The 27-year-old said he had no desire to follow in his father's footsteps. Instead, he would soon head to Australia to work in a meatpacking plant, where the pay is more certain. 'By 2030 or 2050,' he said, 'I don't know if tuna fishing will still be a job in Tuvalu.'
Business Recorder
19-07-2025
- Science
- Business Recorder
Climate-resilient agriculture: SAU, FAO agree to expand collaboration
HYDERABAD: In a concerted effort to strengthen climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable water use in Sindh, the Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tandojam, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations have agreed to deepen their cooperation on joint initiatives. The agreement was reached during a high-level review meeting held at FAO's provincial office in Tandojam on Friday. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Dr. Altaf Ali Siyal, Vice Chancellor of SAU, and Ms. Florence Rolle, FAO Representative in Pakistan. Also present were Dr. Julius Muchemi, Head of FAO Sindh Office; Ms. Emelda Berejena, Project Manager of the Green Climate Fund (GCF)-supported initiative; Ms. Amna Bajwa, Programme Head; along with other technical experts. Participants reviewed the progress of several collaborative projects between SAU and FAO, particularly in climate-vulnerable districts such as Umerkot, Sanghar, and Badin. These joint efforts aim to promote adaptive farming practices through improved irrigation efficiency, short-duration crops, intercropping, seed development, and agricultural marketing. Highlighting the university's contributions, Dr. Altaf Ali Siyal noted that SAU experts are working directly with farmers to pilot innovative techniques and conduct field-based training. He added that the university's FLUX Tower is actively recording meteorological data to support crop planning and early warning systems. Additionally, SAU's communication team is conducting outreach and awareness programs, while university graduates working with FAO are contributing to food security initiatives in the field. Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Florence Rolle emphasized that with the support of the Green Climate Fund, FAO has initiated the installation of Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) across Sindh to strengthen data-driven agricultural decision-making. 'Our goal is to ensure that these tools enhance local planning and pave the way for sustainable development,' she stated. Dr. Julius Muchemi shared that nine AWS units are currently being installed in Sanghar, Badin, and Umerkot. These stations will continuously monitor key agro-meteorological parameters, including temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, precipitation, soil temperature, and electrical conductivity. Ms. Emelda Berejena further elaborated on the broader institutional platform being developed through FAO's collaboration with SAU, research centres, and agricultural extension departments. 'This integrated framework is bridging science, technology, and farming communities to build long-term climate resilience,' she said. The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to enhance institutional engagement, strengthen climate-smart agriculture, and scale up collaborative research and planning efforts across Sindh. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Wire
18-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
SAHAM BANK Secures €55 Million From EBRD to Boost Green Finance in Morocco
CASABLANCA, Morocco--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SAHAM BANK has reaffirmed its commitment to green finance through a strategic partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), under the newly launched Green Economy Financing Facility Plus (GEFF Plus). Supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the European Union (EU), and the Government of Canada (through the HIPCA fund), the initiative will mobilize €55 million in funding for SAHAM BANK. This financing will be channeled into two dedicated credit lines aimed at accelerating the green transition of Morocco's private sector. In addition to financial support, the partnership includes technical assistance funded by the EU and GCF, as part of Morocco's Decarbonisation and Climate Resilience Programme. This support will help strengthen SAHAM BANK's internal capabilities in green finance and develop banking products aligned with environmental challenges. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in SAHAM BANK's sustainable development strategy. It underscores the bank's long-term vision to foster a responsible banking model, focused on green growth and sustainable value creation for the Moroccan economy. This operation illustrates the transformation dynamic initiated by the bank following its change of ownership. Its trajectory is guided by the vision of SAHAM GROUP, chaired by Moulay Hafid Elalamy, who is also Chairman of the supervisory Board of SAHAM BANK. A prominent Moroccan economic player, combining strong local roots with an international outlook, SAHAM GROUP currently operates in high-potential sectors such as finance, customer experience, education, agriculture, and real estate. About Saham Bank Founded in 1913, Saham Bank — formerly Société Générale Marocaine de Banques (SGMB) — is one of Morocco's oldest and most respected banking institutions. Over the past century, it has played a central role in the country's economic development. Saham Bank serves a diverse clientele, including individuals, professionals, and businesses, offering a comprehensive range of financial products and services tailored to their needs. The bank remains committed to innovation, service quality, and sustainable development, while continuing to strengthen its position as a key player in the Moroccan banking sector.
Ya Biladi
18-07-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Saham Bank secures €55 million from EBRD to boost green economy in Morocco
Saham Bank has secured €55 million (578 million dirhams) from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) through a strategic partnership aimed at promoting green economy initiatives in Morocco. The funding falls under the new GEFF Plus (Green Economy Financing Facility) program. The €55 million package, supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the European Union, and the Canadian government via the HIPCA fund, will establish two dedicated credit lines to finance private Moroccan projects focused on energy transition and sustainable development, reads a press release by Saham Bank on Friday. Technical assistance funded by the EU and GCF will accompany the financing and is integrated into Morocco's Decarbonization and Climate Resilience Program. This support aims to strengthen Saham Bank's internal capacities in green finance and help develop climate-aligned financial products. This partnership marks a key milestone in the bank's sustainability strategy since its ownership transition. Originally established in 1913 as a subsidiary of France's Société Générale, the bank was acquired by Morocco's Saham Group in April 2024 and officially rebranded as Saham Bank in June 2025.
Scoop
07-07-2025
- Health
- Scoop
More Than 78,000 In FSM To Benefit From US$17.9m Climate-health Programme
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has developed a climate change and health programme aimed at preventing the spread of climate-sensitive diseases. This is backed by a US$17.9 million grant from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and delivered in partnership with the Pacific Community (SPC). The SPC said illnesses from dengue fever to diarrhoea, once considered seasonal, are now becoming year-round threats. SPC's Public Health Division director Dr Berlin Kafoa said climate change needed to be taken seriously, especially its impact on health. "This project reflects SPC's commitment to a 'one health' approach, recognising that climate change is not just an environmental threat, it is a public health emergency; and by integrating climate finance into health systems to better protect communities from disease, water insecurity, and food-related illnesses." SPC said in a statement the initiative will help climate-proof public health systems and improve community resilience across all four FSM states. "Over the next five years, more than 78,000 people will benefit directly from improved disease surveillance and early warning systems, better access to health information, and resilient water and sanitation infrastructure." The GCF is the world's largest climate fund, mandated to support developing countries raise and realize their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) ambitions towards low-emission, climate-resilient pathways. Its chief investment officer Henry Gonzalez said the approval of this project demonstrated how the fund supports country ownership of climate action on health in the Pacific small island developing state. "It focuses on climate-induced disease prevention and improved early warning interventions." Coral Pasisi, director of SPC's climate change and sustainability division, said the programme "addresses one of the Pacific's most pressing but underfunded challenges, namely the intersection between health and climate". "We are glad to be supporting FSM to not only deliver infrastructure and services but also strengthen institutions and systems that will support long-term resilience to climate-sensitive diseases." The programme will also support the development of a Health National Adaptation Plan to guide long-term responses to climate risks.
