NEW CALEDONIA. PINE ISLAND. AERIAL VIEW OF UPI BAY (Photo by Stephane FRANCES / ONLY FRANCE / Only France via AFP)

Summary

➣ Region focused on security threat of climate change

➣ Peace uncertain following New Caledonia unrest

➣ Concerns surrounding deep sea mining

➣ Progress for regional architecture on gender equality

Regionalism 

Forum members gathered as part of the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting for talanoa discussions on regional development that identified regional economic priorities and policies. This included plans for finalising the establishment of the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), the first Pacific-owned and Pacific-led international development financing institution. 

Leaders and representatives from 16 Pacific Island countries, plus Australia and New Zealand, gathered in Tokyo last week for the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10). Japan expressed its support in partnering with Pacific Island countries to achieve the commitments of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, with a particular focus on climate change. 

Ahead of the #PALM10 meeting, SG Waqa met with the Pacific Ambassadors based in #Japan to discuss regional priorities, then headed to the Pacific Islands Centre to talk #export, #trade and #tourism growth between Forum Island Countries and Japan. pic.twitter.com/eFvcAOxHkC

— Pacific Islands Forum (@ForumSEC) July 15, 2024

Geopolitics 

Political and social instability continues in the aftermath of violent unrest in New Caledonia as the threat of civil war looms and international pressure builds for France to give up its colonies. Pacific Island Forum Leaders have endorsed a high-level mission to New Caledonia in support of long-lasting peace arrangements and the de-escalation of further violence. Pro-Independence leaders in New Caledonia hoped that elections in France would result in a more sympathetic government, as New Caledonia elected Indigenous Kanak, Emmanuel Tjibaou, to France’s parliament.  

Climate and Environmental Security 

In addition to climate change undermining the security of Pacific nations, it also threatens the goal of achieving gender equality. These existential concerns are exacerbated by concerns regarding resource exploitation and environmental security. The Civil Society Forum of Tonga has warned that Tonga’s involvement with deep-sea mining companies poses risks of long-term environmental degradation that put the culture and well-being of Tonga at risk. New discoveries surrounding polymetallic nodules have also been interesting. 

Gender and Social Security 

The 15th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women and 8th Meeting of Pacific Ministers for Women was held from July 24-26 in Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands. The conference brought together women representatives from across government, civil society and youth activist organisations to progress regional architecture for gender equality. Reports on the high levels of harassment experienced by female journalists in the Pacific is a reminder of the ongoing need for improvements in gender equality. 

#PacificWomen are calling for a #SIDSGenderActionPlan at the #15thTriennialConference.

There is no Climate Justice without Gender Justice!#PacificFeministDefendingTheLivingPlanet pic.twitter.com/MLTScSn6BA

— Pacific Feminist Community of Practice (@pacfemcop) July 23, 2024