The Pacific region’s role in championing global action on climate-induced loss and damage was highlighted at a pioneering media training convened by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), with support from the New Zealand Government.
The three-day event, held from 19–21 May at SPREP headquarters in Apia, Samoa brought together regional journalists to build capacity in reporting on one of the most pressing climate issues facing the Pacific.
SPREP Director General, Sefanaia Nawadra reflected on the journey of Pacific climate advocacy, noting how far the region has come since the early days of international climate negotiations.
“When we started off on this journey of climate change negotiations and climate change discussions in the early 1990s, it was quite dry and technical,” Nawadra said.
“There was very little interest from anyone. Mostly just the met services, the environment departments, and our foreign affairs people in New York. None of our leaders were involved.”
But that changed, he said, once the reality of climate change became clear to Pacific nations.
“As the magnitude and impact on our region became more apparent, our leaders began calling climate change what it truly is – an existence issue,” he said.
“Something that is the highest priority in the region and something that we all need to address.”
He credited the media for playing a vital role in this transformation.
“Bringing this issue into the public consciousness, mainstreaming it – none of that would’ve happened without the media. You’ve helped us connect with our people, with our governments, and most importantly, with our leaders.”
Nawadra acknowledged that the relationship between media and climate professionals has not always been easy.
“Those of us who work in this field were once very uncomfortable working with the media,” he said.
“But we’ve grown into a strong partnership. Here at SPREP, we really try to connect with the media because we recognise the key role you play in informing not just the public, but also our political leaders.”
Highlighting the Pacific’s leadership on climate-induced loss and damage, Nawadra said, “This is an issue that the Pacific, through Vanuatu, initially championed globally. I think this is something we need to also recognise about ourselves and our region, is that on the issue of climate change and other global issues like oceans, we punch way beyond our weight. We lead on many of these issues.”
“And the reason behind that is that we recognise that we are the most vulnerable. We’re the ones who get affected the most, even though we contribute the least to these issues. And that’s why Vanuatu really started pushing this, and the region got behind them.”
He recalled a pivotal moment at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt: “The day before the opening, floods hit Pakistan. Suddenly, loss and damage couldn’t be ignored. It was on the news globally. The connection between what was happening in the real world and what we were discussing at the COP became painfully obvious—and that helped negotiators push harder.”
But he also emphasised the importance of timing in communication.
“It’s not just about getting the message out, it’s about knowing when and how to communicate it to raise public awareness and political will.”
Loss and damage, Nawadra said, is now a formal part of the United Nations climate process.
“It has its own programme under the Santiago Network, and a dedicated fund was established in Dubai with initial pledges of around US$700 million. It’s a good start, but it’s far from the estimated US$400 billion needed annually.”
He encouraged journalists to see themselves not just as observers, but as members of the Pacific climate community.
“When you’re covering these events, sometimes you need to set aside your journalistic instincts and remember—you’re part of the Pacific delegation too. You’re part of our collective voice.”
Echoing that sentiment was Jonathan Lee, Second Secretary at the New Zealand High Commission in Samoa, who reaffirmed New Zealand’s commitment to the region’s climate response.
“New Zealand is proud to support Pacific countries to respond to climate change and climate-induced loss and damage,” Lee said.
“At COP27, we pledged $20 million to support activities to respond to loss and damage in the Pacific, and at COP29, we pledged $10 million to the new global fund for loss and damage.”
Lee said that New Zealand’s support is both regional and bilateral.
“Our broader climate finance also supports work in Samoa, Kiribati, Fiji and across the region through initiatives like the Pacific Climate Change Centre and SPC’s Climate Change Flagship. The LDCC project is one of these efforts—it provides a platform for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and targeted support in countries like Tuvalu, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Niue, and Tokelau.”
He emphasised the media’s importance in bridging science, lived experience, and action.
“The media are frontline witnesses to the impacts of sea level rise, extreme weather, and ecosystem loss. You’re uniquely placed to tell those stories with urgency and cultural context.”
He said the training was designed to equip journalists with the tools needed to do just that.
“Through accurate and compelling storytelling, the media can amplify Pacific voices and highlight the human realities behind climate data, like displacement, cultural loss, and economic disruption.”
Nawadra encouraged journalists: “I hope that the knowledge that you share with each other, and that our technical people are able to share with you, will help you to be better journalists – but also to be better knowledge workers.”
Source: SPREP/Pacnews
