Fourteen Pacific Island nations make major strides towards a Cleaner Pacific

Excerpt from thegef.org

Pacific countries made major strides towards realizing the vision of the Cleaner Pacific 2025 today, with the launch of ISLANDS Pacific – a 14-nation initiative aiming to avoid the release of 28,000 tonnes of marine litter, safely dispose of 720 tonnes of contaminated material, and reduce the burden of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and mercury in island communities.

ISLANDS Pacific will strengthen existing regional efforts to #BeatPollution, through support for container deposit legislation and improved recycling efforts, as well as building capacity for lifecycle management of key waste streams, including end-of-life vehicles, used hydraulic oil and e-waste – with special attention placed on providing opportunities for women in recycling operations.

“ISLANDS Pacific provides an incredible opportunity for Samoa,” Hon. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster Samoa’s Minister of Tourism and Natural Resources and Environment said.

“As part of ISLANDS’ commitment to piloting innovative solutions across the region, Samoa will be the location for a remaking and repairing workshop for electronic household goods. By doubling the life of electronic products, the amount of electronic waste can be reduced by half. Through GEF ISLANDS the Government of Samoa will work with the Samoan community to make this a reality.”

ISLANDS Pacific supports the implementation of the Pacific waste and pollution management strategy, Cleaner Pacific 2025, as well as the Waigani Convention to Ban the Importation into Forum Island Countries of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes and to Control the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes within the South Pacific Region, the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) conventions, the Minamata Convention on Mercury and achieving global commitments made under the Samoa Pathway.