Opinion by Sefanaia Nawadra – Head of the UN Environment Programme, Pacific Office Suva, FIJI – JUNE 4, 2020: 5.04PM (UNDP): Around the globe there are more than one million plant and animal species on the verge of disappearing forever. The planet is not in good shape because of us. Nature is suffering biodiversity and […]
Environment office is open again
Nuku’alofa – April 14, 2020: 11.45am (Enviro News): The Department of Environment office in Nuku’alofa is open for normal business again, following the lifting of some restrictions placed for the COVID-19 lockdown. Government lifted some restrictions on Saturday, announcing that government offices can be reopened, as well as schools. All members of the public in […]
Great Barrier Reef suffers most widespread bleaching ever as rampant coal use takes its toll
Sydney, AUSTRALIA – April 7, 2020: 8pm (GREENPEACE): Coal-fired climate change has caused the Great Barrier Reef to bleach for the third time in five years, with the latest attack devastating already struggling corals from far North Queensland to the southern Reef. Head of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies, Professor Terry […]
Lock down in place
Nuku’alofa – March 30, 2020: 10am (Enviro News): Members of the public are advised that the Department of Environment here in Nuku’alofa is in lock down. Only management are operating. This is in line with the Government restrictions announced by the Prime Minister, Hon Dr Pohiva Tu’ionetoa last week. The lock down was effective from […]
Environment office lockdown
Nuku’alofa – March 24, 2020: 12.15pm (Enviro News): The Department of Environment here in Nuku’alofa is going into a ‘lockdown’ in line with the State of Emergency announced by Government. Director Mrs Atelaite Lupe Matoto this morning met with staff and made the announcement. What it basically means is that all staff will be working […]
Water survey on ‘Atata Island
Nuku’alofa – March 10, 2020: 10.15am (Enviro News): A water quality survey was done on ‘Atata Island for ground water lens on Thursday, March 5. It was a collaboration with MECA, a new environmental NGO, with personnel from the University of Canterbury and the Department of Environment. The survey results will help in identifying spots […]
CMS COP13 Concludes in India With Major New Actions for Migratory Species
Gandhinagar, INDIA – February 22, 2020: 9am (UNEP): The Thirteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP13) concluded on Friday in Gandhinagar, India with the adoption of a number of significant resolutions and decisions to address the conservation needs and threats facing […]
Abu Dhabi Recognized as a CMS Migratory Species Champion Plus and extends partnership with Convention on Migratory Species
Gandhinagar/Abu Dhabi, UAE – February 18, 2020: 9.35am 18 February 2020 (UNEP Media): Environment Agency — Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the Secretariat of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) have extended their decade -long partnership, protecting Dugongs, African-Eurasian birds of prey and other migratory animals of regional importance. Established in the United Arab Emirates’ capital in […]
UN launches world’s biggest survey of public opinion on climate change
New York City, USA – February 18, 2020: 9.30am (UN): On February 13, celebrities and youth activists met with UN officials, governments and civil society to launch Mission 1.5, a campaign that aims to bridge the gap between people and governments on ambitious climate action. Mission 1.5 aims to give 20 million people around the […]
Rubbish collected, coconuts planted on Valentine’s Day
Nuku’alofa – February 14, 2020: 2pom (Enviro News): While many Valentines were planning what they would do for lunch or dinner together, a group of youths joined a team from the Environment Department on a project trip that will help Tonga in more ways than one. The members of the Environment’s Mangroves and Marine team […]