SPREP Executive Board Meeting in Samoa focuses on climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and regional environmental action.
12 August 2026, Apia – The collective collaborative effort to cushion Pacific communities against the impacts of the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution continues to be the core of the work of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
SPREP Director General, Mr Sefanaia Nawadra, delivered the reassurance to members and partners at the fifth Executive Board Meeting (5EBM) underway in Samoa this week.
“We gather today as Pacific communities continue to face increasing environmental challenges and pressure from climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and disaster risks,” he said.
“SPREP works according to the mandate given to us by our member states and noting the linkages between the impacts of the triple planetary crises continues to be the core of the work that we do.”
The Executive Board established in 2015, to meet in alternate years to the SPREP Meeting, is guided by principles of environmental leadership, equity, transparency, accountability, flexibility, economy and sustainability in line with the practices and procedures of the Pacific region.
Director General Mr Nawadra welcomed the membership of the fifth Executive Board comprising of the Troika, the United Kingdom, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna and Fiji as representative for Melanesia, Cook Islands for Polynesia, the Federated States of Micronesia for Micronesia, Australia for the Metropolitan Members, and France for the French-speaking members.
Mr Nawadra highlighted the importance of the meeting this week.
“We have the opportunity here today to be able to evaluate the progress since the 32nd SPREP Meeting, through the presentation of the Annual Report, and the Performance Implementation Plan,” he said.
“We also have the opportunity to look at the ongoing governance of SPREP, making sure we are looking after the resources, we’ve been given responsibly.
“At this meeting, we will look at the zero draft of SPREP’s next Strategic Plan, something we have been developing with you, and will be presented at next year’s SPREP Meeting.”
SPREP is the regional organisation established by the Governments and Administrations of the Pacific charged with protecting and managing the environment and natural resources of the Pacific.
Its mandate is to promote cooperation in the Pacific region and provide assistance in order to protect and improve its environment and to ensure sustainable development for present and future generations.
The Director General reiterated SPREP has fully and actively engaged regionally and globally to ensure the performance of its functions.
“This week, we have an opportunity to look at how SPREP has engaged widely within the regional context especially with CROP, as we look to the implementation of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, and ongoing review of the regional architecture,” he said.
“We also have an opportunity to update you on some key international engagements, especially COP31 which we all know is a key moment for us in the Pacific.
“There is also the CBD COP and other work, noting that the linkages between the triple planetary crises we face continues to be core to the work of work.”
The meeting, blessed by Reverend Dr. Wesley Taotua at the start, is chaired by Wallis and Futuna.
The fifth SPREP Executive Board Meeting (5EBM) is held at the Pacific Climate Change Centre/SPREP from 12-13 August 2026.
SPREP’s Executive Board includes the Troika of past, present and future chairpersons of the SPREP Meeting, and representatives of Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, Metropolitan, and French speaking Member countries of SPREP.
The 21 Pacific Island Member countries and territories of SPREP are: American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna. The five Metropolitan members of SPREP are Australia, France, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States of America.
In our efforts to fulfil our vision of ‘a resilient Pacific environment, sustaining our livelihoods and natural heritage in harmony with our cultures’, SPREP is extremely grateful to our valued Members, development partners, donors, our CROP family, and stakeholders.
SOURCE//; SPREP PRESS RELEASE
