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Showing 9 of 2022 news items

Tourism & Remote WorkMarch 11, 2026

Visitor Caps Coming to Majorca This Summer to Address Overcrowding and Protect Natural Resources

Excerpt from travelandtourworld.com Majorca, one of Spain’s most beloved holiday destinations, is set to introduce a cap on tourist numbers for the upcoming summer season. The new limits, which will be implemented across the island’s most popular spots, aim to address the growing concerns over overcrowding, environmental degradation, and the long-term sustainability of the island’s tourism industry. Majorca, renowned for its crystal-clear beaches, charming villages, and vibrant culture, has long been a top choice for British tourists. However, the influx of visitors has led to pressures on the island’s infrastructure, natural resources, and local communities. As the island braces for another busy summer, the introduction of these visitor limits represents a strategic move to balance the needs of tourism with environmental preservation and quality of life for residents.

Climate ActionMarch 11, 2026

Historic Pacific Islands Guidance on Climate Relocation Released

Excerpt from news.fundsforngos.org On March 4, 2026, Pacific Island governments launched the world’s first regional guidance on climate-related relocation grounded in human rights principles. The initiative aims to provide a framework for communities forced to move due to rising seas, coastal erosion, and extreme tides, ensuring that relocations are conducted with respect for human dignity and self-determination. The guidance was unveiled as Pacific leaders convened in Nadi, Fiji, to discuss pairing this landmark framework with the financial and technical support necessary for its effective implementation.

Climate ActionMarch 2, 2026

Scotland's largest uninhabited island to have rainforest restored

Excerpt from thenational.scot SCOTLAND’S largest uninhabited island has become the focus of a major restoration project as its original Atlantic rainforest biome is set to be re-established. Taransay, a 790-hectare island off the west coast of Harris in the Outer Hebrides, is to undergo a major transformation as those behind the project say the Atlantic rainforest, once common on the western seaboard, has become one of the country’s most forgotten and fragmented habitats. The island’s owners, Adam and Cathra Kelliher, say they have taken a “deliberate” decision to step away from short-term commercial development and instead pursue a future grounded in ecological recovery and local employment.

Policy & GovernanceMarch 2, 2026

'No island is too small to make an impact': Germany builds closer ties with Tonga, seals diplomacy with Niue

Excerpt and Photo Credit: pacificislandtimes.com Germany’s foreign minister recently embarked on an Indo-Pacific tour to shore up relations and build a backstop against China. Tonga was the last leg of Johann Wadephul’s tour, and to some observers, it the curious part of the itinerary, which began in Singapore and Brunei before moving on to New Zealand and Australia. How does Tonga, a tiny island kingdom in the South Pacific with a population of approximately 104,000, share the interests of economic powerhouse Germany, a country it has so little in common with? Lord Fakafanua, Tonga’s prime minister, said Wadephul’s visit reflected the “strength and longevity” of the two countries' relationship and their shared focus on sustainable development and climate resilience, both vital to their future. While in Tonga, Wadephul met with Niue's prime minister, Dalton Tagelagi, to seal Germany's diplomatic relations with Niue, marking another step toward closer ties in the Pacific region.

Ocean & BiodiversityMarch 2, 2026

Massive win for moana as Taranaki seabed mining application rejected

Excerpt from greenpeace.org Greenpeace along with iwi and environmental groups are calling the decision to reject Trans Tasman Resources proposal to mine the Taranaki seafloor “a massive win for people power and the ocean”. In a draft decision, released today, the Fast Track expert panel declined the Australian company’s application to mine the seabed in the South Taranaki Bight. The panel declined consent for the project, finding it would likely cause material harm to marine ecosystems, threatened species like pygmy blue whales and penguins, and concluded it could not be safely managed, even with conditions attached. Greenpeace Aotearoa seabed mining spokesperson Juressa Lee says: “This is the outcome we have been fighting for over 12 years. It shows exactly what happens when communities, iwi, experts and ocean protectors stand together.

Culture & CommunityMarch 2, 2026

How mountain terraces have helped Indigenous peoples live with climate uncertainty

Excerpt from eco-business.com Indigenous communities have lived with changes to the climate for centuries. Their adaptations over those many years are based on their close observation of weather, water, soils and seasonal change, and they have been refined through generations of learning. That knowledge, though developed deep in the past, is increasingly useful in the modern world. As global temperatures rise, climate pressures are intensifying, with longer dry spells, stronger storms and more erratic rainfall. Terrace systems reflect Indigenous peoples’ long experience of living with environmental uncertainty in specific places and historical contexts. They offer ways of thinking about risk and long-term land use based on observation and intergenerational learning.

Water & FoodMarch 2, 2026

Landmark project improved farmers’ livelihoods and protected forests in Madagascar, new report finds

Excerpt from webwire.com Findings from the impact evaluation conducted by Conservation International, in partnership with the Green Climate Fund’s Independent Evaluation Unit, found clear evidence of higher crop yields and lower deforestation rates among farming communities participating in the USD 16 million “Sustainable Landscapes in Eastern Madagascar” project. The project supported more than 24,000 smallholder farming households in and around the Ankeniheny-Zahamena and the Ambositra-Vondrozo forest corridors with climate-smart agriculture techniques, distribution of seeds and equipment, forest patrols, agroforestry promotion and forest restoration.

Policy & GovernanceMarch 2, 2026

All hands on paddles: Why COP31 needs the full strength of Pacific women

Photo Credit and Excerpt from themandarin.com.au I watched our children trundle home from their first day back at school, their giggles drifting across the heat-haze of dusty roads. It reminded me of the girl I once was, and of thousands of girls across our Blue Pacific for whom school is not guaranteed. I was one of the fortunate ones: my parents invested in me, and I had access to a good education. It was my mother who nudged me toward politics. When I veered off this path, she pulled me back to it.

Climate ActionMarch 2, 2026

Why location matters for the Pacific Pre-COP

Excerpt from lowyinstitute.org When Australia bid to host the 2026 annual global climate change negotiations COP31, it envisioned a Pacific partnership that would centre climate dialogue around the concerns of vulnerable island nations. After Türkiye refused to withdraw its competing bid, Australia compromised. Türkiye would host the formal conference, while Australia presided over negotiations. Australia has also committed to support a Pacific-hosted Pre-COP meeting, a two-to-three-day preparatory gathering where ministers and senior officials from up to 50 different delegations shape expectations for the main conference. Now, Fiji and Palau are competing to be the venue for these talks. Both nations bring extensive climate credentials, but to maximise this opportunity for the benefit of the region, logistics and symbolic impact must be considered.