New Funding to Support the Pacific’s Renewable Energy Transition THE Australian Government is partnering with Pacific nations to improve energy security and scale up energy grid transition with a AUD125 million (SBD687.5 million) investment in renewable energy. Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon Chris Bowen MP, announced the funding at COP29 at an event attended by Solomon Islands’... READ MORE Enhancing Coastal Monitoring and Community Resilience on Sikaiana Island HONIARA, Solomon Islands, 11th November 2024 – People on the Island atoll of Sikaiana will now be able to have access to information relating to the rate of coastal erosion and extent of inundation of their island. Thanks to the construction and installation of a Permanent Survey Marker (PSM)... READ MORE Lilisiana Community Fights to Protect Sacred Graves from Rising Seas and Coastal Erosion Lilisiana, Langalanga Lagoon, Malaita Province – November 20, 2024 THE Lilisiana community is facing an urgent and heartbreaking reality as rising sea levels continue to claim their sacred burial grounds. Three rows of graves have already been lost, and now 22 more graves in the fourth row are at critical... READ MORE Australia Strengthens Cocoa Production and Market Access in Malaita LOCAL business LF & Sons Enterprises has announced it is expanding cocoa supplies and improving market access to support livelihoods in remote areas of Malaita. For the first time, Malaita’s largest cocoa buyer will partner with Australia to increase export volumes and strengthen its supply chain across the remote Northeast... READ MORE PM Manele Commended Parties in the Pristine Sea Expedition THE Prime Minister, the Honourable Jeremiah Manele, MP, has commended scientists and government employees who participated in the National Geographic Pristine Seas-led expedition. The expedition resulted in the discovery of the world’s largest coral at the Three Sisters Islands in Makira-Ulawa Province. According to the Pristine Seas scientists, after discovering the... READ MORE MAL Minister Persuades Development Partners for Agriculture Support at SIDS Solutions Form MINISTER for Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) Honorable. Franklyn Derek Wasi, has persuaded development partners alike to support agriculture development in Solomon Islands. He made the call during the 2024 Pacific SIDS Solutions Forum in Nadi, Fiji last week. The Minister was presenting at the main plenary of the Solutions... READ MORE Solomon Islands and Commonwealth Secretariat Reaffirm Partnership for Climate Resilience and Sustainable Development THE Hon. Trevor Manemahaga, Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management, and Meteorology of the Solomon Islands, met with Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland KC, on the sidelines of COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The meeting underscored the strong partnership between the Solomon Islands and the Commonwealth, focusing... READ MORE Minister MAL Held Fruitful Discussions with FAO Director General THE Minister for Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) Honorable Franklyn Derek Wasi, has met with the Rome based Director General for UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), His Excellency Dr. Qu Dongyu during the 2024 Pacific SIDS Solutions Forum in Nadi, Fiji recently. This is the first time for... READ MORE New Renewable Energy Partnership Launched In Solomon Islands THE Solomon Islands Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification for the Honiara grid has launched a new partnership on renewable energy transition modelling with the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Permanent Secretary Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, Dr Chris Vehe, welcomed the... READ MORE New Discovery: Largest Coral in the World Found in the Solomon Islands VISIBLE from space, the mega coral is three times larger than the previous record-breaker, is believed to be about 300 years old, storing a record of ocean conditions from past centuries A group of scientists working aboard a research vessel in the southwest Pacific Ocean has discovered the world’s largest... READ MORE Supporting Local Cocoa Farmers, Empowering Communities AUSTRALIA’S support for Solomon Islands’ cocoa sector continues to grow with the announcement of its latest partnership with Tupaghotua Cocoa Plantation (TCP), a local woman-owned business in Guadalcanal. TCP is well known for producing and exporting high quality dried cocoa beans overseas. Australia’s latest support will upgrade TCP’s solar drying... READ MORE PM Manele Acknowledged Outgoing FFA’S DG THE Prime Minister, Honourable Jeremiah Manele, MP, acknowledged the outgoing Director-General of the Forum Fisheries Agency, Dr. Manumatavai Tupou-Roosen, for her outstanding contributions to the FFA over the last two decades. Prime Minister Manele acknowledged Dr. Manu, as she is affectionately known, during a farewell dinner hosted by the Office... READ MORE First-Ever Climate Change and Disaster Disability Inclusion Dialogue BY CHRIS ALEX THE first-ever Climate Change and Disaster Disability Inclusion Dialogue was held yesterday at the Saint Barnabas Hall in Honiara, a collaboration between Oxfam in the Pacific and the Disabled People’s Association Solomon Islands (DPASI). The one-day event brought together various stakeholders, and organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs),... READ MORE Signing of CAUSE II to Strengthen Climate Resilience and Economic Access in Solomon Islands THE Solomon Islands Government and the World Bank signed the financing agreements that will enable Community Access and Urban Services Enhancement Project II (CAUSE II) to move into the implementation phase. The signatories on the 5th November ceremony at the Ministry of Finance Headquarters in Honiara were Finance and Treasury... READ MORE Solomon Islands Minister for Environment Delivers Remarks at CBD COP 16 in Cali, Colombia Cali, Colombia – The Honorable Trevor Manemahaga, Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management, and Meteorology of the Solomon Islands, delivered impactful remarks at the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) held in Cali, Colombia. This crucial event brings together global leaders... READ MORE ADB, Partners Mark Start of Construction of Tina River Hydropower Project in Solomon Islands THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) joined project partners in the Solomon Islands for a ceremony to mark the beginning of construction of the Tina River main dam structure. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele led the commissioning ceremony. He was joined by ADB Director General for the Pacific Leah Gutierrez,... READ MORE Introduction of “Pay As You Throw” Household Waste Collection Service Pilot Project in Honiara THE Asian Development Bank (ADB), in collaboration with the Honiara City Council, Guadalcanal Provincial Government, and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, is launching the ‘Pay As You Throw’ (PAYT) household waste collection pilot project in selected areas of Honiara and Guadalcanal Province. Participating communities include... READ MORE Australia and Superfly Bring Solar Freezers for Remote Solomon Islands Businesses AUSTRALIA has announced support to Superfly Ltd., a leading solar power provider in Solomon Islands to subsidise the cost of solar-powered freezer units for 30 small businesses across Solomon Islands. Australia will fund a 50 per cent reduction with the cost of solar freezer kits for 30 small businesses. The kits are... READ MORE EU Pledges to Support Bina Harbour Tuna Processing Plant THE European Union has pledged to support the Bina Harbour Tuna Processing Plant project, aligning with the Solomon Islands Government's push for transformative economic infrastructure development. This is one of the key outcomes following a meeting between the Minister for National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC) Hon. Rexon Ramofafia and... READ MORE Tina River Hydro Project Steams Ahead THE Tina River Hydropower Development Project has entered a new phase with construction commencing on the main dam and powerhouse.  To celebrate the start of construction of the hydropower facility, Prime Minister Manele attended an official ceremony alongside Australian High Commissioner, Mr Rod Hilton, Solomon Islands Government ministers and officials,... READ MORE