Niue, a debt free paradise island in the heart of the South Pacific Ocean

Niue, a debt free paradise island in the heart of the South Pacific Ocean

The island nation of Niue, perched on a coral atoll in the South Pacific Ocean and with a population of around 2,000, has paid off all its national debt, which amounted to 4 million dollars (2,000 per inhabitant). Premier Toke Talagi has declared that Niue will no longer be accepting loans but rather will focus on

United States, Obama creates the world’s largest marine sanctuary

United States, Obama creates the world’s largest marine sanctuary

Off the coasts of Hawaii, the President of the United States has quadrupled the area of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, a protected marine reserve established by George W. Bush earlier in 2006. This is part of the legacy Obama wants to hand on his successor. The existing marine reserve will be expanded from 357,000 to

Five Pacific islands vanish due to rising sea levels

Five Pacific islands vanish due to rising sea levels

For the first time in history scientists have been able to demonstrate the impact of climate change and rising sea levels on small island nations. New evidence shows five islands being swallowed by the sea over the past seven decades.   These were part of the Solomon Islands nation, over 1,000 islands in the Southwest Pacific located about 1,600

Small islands will face more drought as a consequence of climate change

Small islands will face more drought as a consequence of climate change

Yet again small islands are at the forefront when it comes to the impacts of climate change. A recent study claims that these will face more freshwater scarcity than scientists previously thought. Current global climate models (GCMs, mathematical representations of climate used to predict future variables such as surface pressure, wind, temperature, humidity and rainfall) predict

Seychelles swaps millions of dollars in debt in exchange for conserving its ocean

Seychelles swaps millions of dollars in debt in exchange for conserving its ocean

Seychelles is finalising a multi-million dollar debt swap in exchange for its commitment to saving the ocean. The deal was initiated by environmental organisation The Nature Conservancy and the government of the western Indian Ocean nation in 2012. “This is the first example of a debt swap focused on marine conservation and ecosystem-based adaptation to climate

Fiji leads the world in ratifying the Paris climate agreement

Fiji leads the world in ratifying the Paris climate agreement

Fiji is the first country in the world to ratify the historic COP21 climate agreement negotiated in Paris last December. In demonstration of its commitment to tackling climate change, on 12 February Fiji’s parliament voted unanimously in favour of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.     With this formal agreement the nation seals its leadership role in raising global awareness on the impact