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Tuvalu
Environment Minister Global Environment Facility Tuvalu

Tuvalu calls for “transformational change” at GEF Assembly

June 08, 2026 0

 TUVALU’S Minister for Environment, Maina Vakafua Talia, has urged governments and partners at the 8th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to move beyond gradual reform and deliver what he called “transformational change” to confront climate and environmental crises.

Speaking on behalf of Tuvalu’s government and people, he said the Assembly marked significant milestones as the GEF 8 cycle ends and GEF 9 begins.

Talia framed the meeting as a turning point for global environmental action.

“We are at a critical juncture in our spirit toward the 2030 sustainability targets,” he said, adding that countries must build on this spirit – the spirit of genuine partnership and shared responsibilities.

He said the world is under pressure from funding gaps and ecological decline, and argued that governments must act with greater ambition.

“We therefore must commit to move beyond incremental change to deliver transformational change,” he said.

He also called for deeper use of blended finance, private-sector engagement, and science-based systems change.

“Small island developing states and least developed countries must be treated as especially vulnerable in the development architecture.

“We must guarantee that resilience and sustainable development is inclusive; we cannot achieve global environmental sustainability leaving any country or any community behind.”

Talia pointed to Tuvalu’s own exposure to climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, saying the country experiences the interconnected realities of those crises firsthand.

“The Global Environment Facility, through its LDCF and STAR mechanisms, provides “the financial resources that generate lasting impacts on the ground” and turns commitments into action.”

Looking ahead to GEF 9, Talia said Tuvalu welcomes the new programming direction and urged the Assembly to scale up ambition.

“Let us use the framework, the strategies, and the momentum built here in Samarkand to scale up investments and ambitions to deliver scalable solutions for nature, climate, and pollution,” he said.

“Tuvalu reaffirms its steadfast commitment to continue to strengthen genuine partnership to build a resilient and sustainable planet for generations to come.

Talia thanked the Government and people of Uzbekistan and the city of Samarkand for hosting the gathering, describing the city as “a historic crossroad of culture and enduring symbol of connectivity.”


Tuvalu’s Minister for Environment Maina Vakafua Talia.
Image: IISD/ENB – Kiara Worth


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World Environment Day
Huli Cihef Papua New Guinea Tari World Environment Day

Mundiya Kepanga: The Huli Chief Carrying Papua New Guinea’s Forest Story to the World

June 08, 2026 0

Port Moresby| 4 June 2026: Among the most internationally recognised Indigenous voices from Papua New Guinea is Mundiya Kepanga, a customary chief of the Huli people from the Highlands region whose work has linked traditional knowledge, environmental protection, cultural preservation and international dialogue.
Born in the Tari region of present-day Hela Province, Kepanga belongs to the Huli people, one of Papua New Guinea's largest Indigenous groups. The Huli are renowned across the Highlands for their ceremonial wigs, bird-of-paradise adornments, oral traditions and deep connection to the forests and mountains of their ancestral lands.
For more than two decades, Kepanga has travelled extensively across Europe, North America and other regions, speaking in museums, universities, schools and international forums. His presentations draw upon Huli traditions and experiences growing up in Papua New Guinea's rainforest environment. Through these engagements he has become one of the country's most visible cultural ambassadors.
His international profile emerged through a long collaboration with French photographer and filmmaker Marc Dozier. Their work introduced audiences overseas to Huli culture and life in Papua New Guinea. One of the best-known productions, The Reversed Exploration, turned the traditional explorer narrative on its head by following Papuan visitors as they observed and interpreted life in Europe. The documentary was broadcast internationally, including on National Geographic and Canal+.
Over time, Kepanga became increasingly associated with environmental advocacy. His message centres on the relationship between people and forests, drawing from Huli teachings which view the natural environment as inseparable from community life, identity and survival. In speeches delivered around the world, he has described forests as living systems carrying the memory, history and future of Indigenous communities.
His environmental work gained international attention through the award-winning documentary Frères des Arbres (Brothers of the Trees) and its successor Guardians of the Forest: Time for Solutions. The films follow his efforts to raise awareness about the destruction of tropical forests in Papua New Guinea and the significance of Indigenous stewardship. The productions received numerous international awards and brought his message to audiences across Europe and beyond.
Kepanga has also participated in major international gatherings dealing with environmental and Indigenous issues. He contributed to events linked to the Paris climate conference (COP21), appeared at UNESCO forums, and has spoken alongside scientists, educators and Indigenous leaders from other parts of the world. His presentations combine storytelling, humour and traditional knowledge rather than technical policy language, making them accessible to a wide range of audiences.
An equally important part of his work involves cultural preservation. Kepanga has donated complete sets of traditional Huli ceremonial regalia to several museums in Europe, including institutions in France and Switzerland. These collections provide international audiences with an opportunity to learn about Papua New Guinea's cultural heritage through authentic artefacts created by Huli communities.
His influence extends into literature and education. He has authored and co-authored books, contributed to academic publications and inspired children's literature introducing younger generations to Indigenous perspectives from Papua New Guinea. His life story has become the subject of documentaries, educational programmes and public exhibitions.
In 2026, Kepanga's profile received renewed attention in France through activities connected to the exhibition Plumes du Paradis ("Feathers of Paradise") at the Musée du Quai Branly, Jacques Chirac in Paris. The exhibition explores the history, symbolism and global journey of birds-of-paradise, creatures deeply woven into the cultures of New Guinea. Related events included screenings of Guardians of the Forest: Time for Solutions, with Kepanga participating in public discussions.
Today, Mundiya Kepanga occupies a unique place among contemporary Indigenous leaders. He remains rooted in Huli traditions while engaging audiences across continents. His work has helped introduce millions of people to Papua New Guinea's forests, cultures and Indigenous knowledge systems, making him one of the country's most recognised cultural figures on the international stage.
📸 Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco| Mundiya Kepanga| Marc Dozier
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Masyarakat Adat
Maluku Masyarakat Adat

Suku Togutil (sering juga disebut sebagai Suku Tobelo Dalam)

June 04, 2026 0
Suku Togutil (sering juga disebut sebagai Suku Tobelo Dalam) adalah komunitas adat yang mendiami pedalaman hutan Halmahera, terutama di kawasan Taman Nasional Aketajawe-Lolobata, Maluku Utara. Di tengah gempuran modernisasi dan industri ekstraktif, mereka dikenal sebagai salah satu penjaga garis pertahanan terakhir bagi keanekaragaman hayati Maluku Utara.

Bagi Suku Togutil asli yang hidup di pedalaman, pohon bukan sekadar benda mati atau sumber daya kayu. Pohon dipandang memiliki keterikatan magis dengan manusia:

• Simbol Kelahiran: Di wilayah tertentu seperti Baborino, Buli, dan Halmahera Timur, terdapat tradisi unik di mana pohon digunakan sebagai lambang kelahiran seorang bayi. Ketika seorang anak lahir ke dunia, keluarga akan menandai atau menanam pohon khusus untuknya.

• Refleksi Jiwa: Mereka percaya bahwa perkembangan kehidupan sang anak akan selaras dengan pertumbuhan pohon tersebut tumbuh besar, kokoh, serta memberikan manfaat bagi sekitarnya. Merusak atau menebang pohon tersebut dipercaya akan membawa kesialan atau malapetaka bagi pemilik jiwanya.

Suku Togutil dikenal sangat memegang teguh prinsip anti-merusak hutan. Mereka tidak memiliki kebiasaan menebang pohon secara sembarangan.

Secara religi tradisional, Suku Togutil menganut animisme dan dinamisme yang sangat kuat, Alam dipercaya diawasi secara spiritual. Jika mereka merusak hutan atau mengambil hasil bumi secara berlebihan, roh-roh tersebut diyakini akan marah dan memberikan hukuman berupa penyakit, paceklik, atau musibah bagi kelompok mereka.

Suku Togutil menerapkan pola hidup semi-nomaden yang sangat bergantung pada kelestarian ekosistem rimba.

Selain sangat menghormati hutan, Suku Togutil memiliki tatanan sosial yang sangat menghargai kaum perempuan. Perempuan dianggap memiliki peran sakral dalam menjaga keberlangsungan generasi mereka, sehingga keselamatan dan hak-hak perempuan sangat dijunjung tinggi di dalam hukum adat mereka.

Saat ini, keberlangsungan hidup Suku Togutil sedang terancam hebat:

Deforestation akibat Pertambangan: Ekspansi tambang nikel dan industri kayu skala besar di Halmahera perlahan-lahan menggunduli hutan adat mereka. Akibatnya, rantai makanan mereka terputus, sumber air bersih tercemar, dan daerah jelajah mereka makin menyempit.

Karena ruang hidup yang rusak dan gundul, beberapa kelompok Suku Togutil kini terpaksa keluar dari hutan atau mendekati area pertambangan untuk mencari makan, memicu berbagai interaksi dengan masyarakat luar dan pekerja tambang yang terkadang memicu konflik akibat perbedaan bahasa dan budaya.

#caregivers #halmahera #tambang #deforestation #peduli
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Vanuatu
climate change climate justice United Nations Vanuatu

UN climate vote exposes split over law, fossil fuels and China’s emissions rise

May 23, 2026 0
New York| 23 May 2026: The United Nations General Assembly has backed a Vanuatu-led climate resolution linked to last year’s International Court of Justice ruling, but the vote also exposed a hard dispute over legal liability, national sovereignty, fossil fuel use and the emissions record of China and India.

The resolution passed with 141 votes in favour, eight against and 28 abstentions. Belarus, Iran, Israel, Liberia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United States and Yemen voted against it. 

The resolution supports the ICJ’s July 2025 advisory opinion, which said states have obligations under international law to protect the climate system from greenhouse gas emissions. It also said states breaching those duties may face legal responsibility, including reparations in some circumstances. 

The Trump administration opposed the resolution on clear policy grounds. Washington said the text placed inappropriate political demands on fossil fuels and opened the door to legal arguments against states over climate damage. US Deputy Ambassador Tammy Bruce also rejected a request asking the UN Secretary-General to report back on legal issues arising from the ICJ opinion. 

Trump’s climate policy since returning to office has centred on energy sovereignty, cheaper power, domestic oil and gas, coal, minerals, jobs and industrial security. His January 2025 order withdrawing the US from Paris-related climate commitments said international environmental agreements must not unfairly burden the American economy. 

A second Trump order made expanded domestic energy production official US policy, linking fossil fuels and natural resources to prosperity, manufacturing strength, national security and lower household costs. 

The American argument also rests on a blunt emissions point: China and India remain central to global emissions growth. EDGAR’s 2025 report said China, the United States, India, the EU27, Russia and Indonesia produced 61.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. It also found China, India, Russia and Indonesia increased emissions in 2024, with India recording the largest absolute increase among top emitters. 

IEA data gives the same picture. India’s energy-related CO₂ emissions rose 5.3% in 2024, the highest rate among major economies, driven by growth, infrastructure, heatwaves and rising electricity demand. China’s emissions rose 0.4%, while US energy-related CO₂ emissions fell 0.5% in 2024. 

That is the fairness argument behind Washington’s position: the US faces legal pressure, climate lawsuits and fossil fuel restrictions while China and India continue expanding energy use to power industry, cities and exports. In Trump’s view, climate law should not punish American workers, manufacturers and energy producers while fast-rising economies keep lifting emissions.

Pacific island states see the same issue from the opposite end. Vanuatu and other vulnerable countries argue rising seas, saltwater intrusion, coastal loss and stronger storms are already damaging communities with tiny emissions footprints.

The resolution is not binding, but it gives climate-vulnerable countries another legal reference point. Future lawsuits, treaty debates and compensation claims will likely cite both the ICJ opinion and this General Assembly vote.
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West Papua
extractive industry perusahaan Kelapa Sawit Sorong West Papua

MASYARAKAT ADAT BUBARKAN PERTEMUAN SOSIALISASI PERUSAHAAN KELAPA SAWIT PT ANUGERAH SAKTI INTERNUSA

February 18, 2026 0
Sekitar 200 orang masyarakat adat dari enam kampung di Distrik Konda dan Distrik Teminabuan, yakni Kampung Bariat, Nakna, Konda, Wamargege, Manelek, Keyen dan Anny Sesna, membubarkan pertemuan sosialisasi perusahaan perkebunan kelapa sawit PT Anugerah Sakti Internusa (ASI), yang sedang berlangsung di Kampung Nakna, Distrik Konda, Kabupaten Sorong Selatan, Sabtu sore, 14 Februari 2026.

Pertemuan sosialisasi dilakukan diam-diam, tanpa ada pemberitahuan dan undangan resmi kepada masyarakat adat dan pemilik tanah adat, yang terancam rencana perkebunan PT ASI di Distrik Konda dan Teminabuan. Perusahaan, pejabat Kepala Distrik Konda Lukas Anny dan orang tertentu memanggil beberapa warga pendukung perusahaan. Namun rencana ini bocor diketahui anggota masyarakat adat di enam kampung. 

Kepala Suku dan Ketua LMA Gemna Erit Anny, yang hadir dalam pertemuan menjelaskan dirinya hanya mendengar desas desus pertemuan di Kampung Nakna, yang jaraknya cukup jauh, lebih dari 20 Km dari Kampung Anny, tempat tinggal Erit Anny.

“Saya kepala suku dan pemilik tanah adat tidak dapat undangan, tapi saya harus hadir, karena ini tentang hutan dan wilayah adat kami. Saya tetap akan berdiri dengan rakyat, siapa saja yang berani masuk ditempat ini maka kami akan ambil tindakan tegas secara adat, demi alam leluhur kami”, tegas Erit Anny.

Pemilik tanah adat dan mantan Kepala Kampung Nakna Yance Mondar yang tinggal di dusun, juga hanya mendapakan informasi dari warga di Kampung Nakna. Mereka berinisiatif mengumpulkan anggota Marga Mondar dan menyampaikan informasi ini kepada masyarakat adat di kampung-kampung distrik Konda.

“Saya tidak kaget ada kegiatan ini dari info lewat masyarakat, akhirnya kami anggota marga sepakat datang dan sikap kami tetap tolak kelapa sawit, karena kami pu hutan di Konda ini kecil saja dan milik semua marga disini, bukan milik satu marga saja”, jelas Yance Mondar asal Suku Nakna.

Pada Oktober dan November 2025, Suku Nakna, Afsya, Gemna, Yaben dan Tehit dari Distrik Konda dan Teminabuan, Kabupaten Sorong Selatan, telah bertemu dengan Kepala Kantor Pertanahan dan pejabat Bupati Sorong Selatan, untuk menyampaikan sikap penolakan masyarakat adat terhadap PT ASI yang pernah diberikan Izin Usaha Perkebunan seluas 14.000 hektar untuk beroperasi di dua distrik tersebut.

Pertemuan sosialisasi berlangsung di halaman rumah keluarga Steven Sawor, yang diduga memfasilitasi pertemuan diam-diam di Kampung Nakna. Hadir dalam pertemuan Kepala Kampung Konda Lukas Anny, Kepala Kampung Nakna Yulice Meres, Danramil Teminabuan.

Suasana pertemuan sejak awal sudah diwarnai ketegangan. Masyarakat adat yang hadir menunjukkan keresahan dan kasak kusuk dalam pertemuan. Perwakilan perusahaan dipanggil Pak Mukti menjelaskan rencana perusahaan.  

Giliran masyarakat diberikan kesempatan berbicara. Nikodemus Mondar, pemilik tanah adat dan tokoh Suku Nakna, lalu membacakan surat pernyataan, yang memuat pernyataan sikap penolakan masyarakat adat terhadap perusahaan dan rencana perkebunan kelapa sawit di wilayah adat mereka. 

Masyarakat adat yang hadir ramai-ramai menyatakan penolakan dan berteriak marah. Terjadi keributan dan teriakan menolak pertemuan, menolak tanah adat dijadikan perkebunan kelapa sawit dan mengecam kebijakan pemerintah. Lalu meledak kemarahan dan aksi spontanitas masyarakat membongkar tenda-tenda pada acara tersebut. Acara dibubarkan.  

“Tong berulangkali menyatakan menolak perusahaan perkebunan kelapa sawit di tanah adat ini. Tapi ko datang lagi paksa kitong menerima rencana busuk ini. Tanah ini buat tong pung anak cucu hidup”, kecam mama Grice Mondar. 

“Tanah hutan kami yang kecil ini tempat tong punya sumber hidup. Kami sudah miliki dan kelola dari nenek moyang. Bukan tanah kosong”, jelas Yulian Kareth, tokoh masyarakat adat Afsya dari Kampung Bariat. 

Pertemuan hanya berlangsung sekitar satu jam (13.00 – 14.00 WIT) tidak dapat dilanjutkan dan tidak ada kesepakatan apapun. Pihak perusahaan, pejabat kepala distrik dan Danramil, pergi meninggalkan tempat pertemuan dan warga masih marah.

Sumber:
https://pusaka.or.id/news/masyarakat-adat-bubarkan-pertemuan-sosialisasi-perusahaan-kelapa-sawit-pt-anugerah-sakti-internusa/

#papuabukantanahkosong #tolaksawitdipapua 
#tolakpsn #hancurkankapitalisme #usirkolonialisme
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United Nations
deforestation logging Papua New Guinea United Nations

UN COMMITTEE QUESTIONS PNG GOVERNMENT ON SABL LEASES AND ILLEGAL FCA LOGGING

January 28, 2026 0
POST- COURIER JANUARY 28 2026

The United Nations is calling for answers from the Papua New Guinea government over its cancellation of controversial SABL leases and the use of Forest Clearing Authorities as cover for illegal large-scale logging operations.

In a public letter sent last week, the UN’s Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UNCERD), says it is concerned by reported delays and a lack of transparency in the revoking of Special Agriculture Business Leases and the audit of FCA logging licences.

A national Commission of Inquiry in 2011 found almost all SABL leases issued over customary land were unlawful due to corruption and mismanagement and in June 2014 the National Executive Council endorsed the recommendation the leases should be revoked.

However, since then there has been a complete lack of transparency over which leases have been cancelled and which remain and affected communities have been denied any effective remedies including fair and just compensation for land and resources illegally occupied or damaged.

Meanwhile, the abuse of Forest Clearing Authorities by privately owned Malaysian logging companies has flourished. Over the past three-years, one-third of all log exports have come from FCA areas, with 50 such licences issued, the largest covering more than 250,000 hectares.

The UN says it is concerned these FCAs have been issued without the informed consent of local resource owners and the permits are being unlawfully used as cover for the logging of large-areas of forest in breach of Forestry Act rules.

The letter also raises the lack of public information about the Forest Authority’s promised audit of all FCA logging operations and the implementation of a moratorium on new FCA projects.

The UN says the delays in the cancellation of SABL leases and abuse of FCAs threaten the rights of Indigenous Peoples, particularly their right to own, develop, control and use their communal lands and resources and their rights to justice, effective remedies and fair and just compensation.

The Committee has asked the government to provide a response on all the issues raised in its letter by 17 April 2026. It also notes the government has previous failed to respond to earlier letters sent in 2011, 2016 and 2018 that raised similar issues.

Later this year it will be the turn of the PNG government to appear before the United National Human Rights Council in Geneva to defend its record on human rights under the five-yearly Universal Periodic Review process. 

The issue of SABL leases and abuse of FCA logging licences are likely too feature heavily in those hearings.

Link- https://actnowpng.org/blog/un-questions-png-government-on-sabl-leases-and-illegal-fca-logging
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New Guinea
endemic species New Guinea

“Rubbish Bird,” the Hooded Pitohui

January 27, 2026 0
Known locally in parts of Papua New Guinea as the “Rubbish Bird,” the Hooded Pitohui is considered poisonous and inedible, a reputation backed by science.

In 1992, according to National Geographic, scientist John Dumbacher and his collaborators made the groundbreaking discovery of the bird’s toxicity while researching Birds of Paradise in PNG.

The Hooded Pitohui is the most toxic of the six pitohui species. Its skin and feathers contain batrachotoxin, the same powerful toxin found in certain South American poison dart frogs. Scientists believe the toxin comes from the bird’s diet, particularly the toxic Choresine beetle, which it consumes while foraging for fruits and seeds.

Batrachotoxin is more lethal than cyanide, capable of irritating nerves, causing paralysis and even leading to death in both humans and animals. Like many poisonous species, the Hooded Pitohui uses its bright colouring and strong odour as a warning to predators.
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