Climate Change

Pope wants technology to make us better humans

When the pontiff called on Congress to take "courageous action" on climate change, he also talked about the role he sees for technology in the world, quoting a papal encyclical published earlier this year.

“We have the freedom needed to limit and direct technology,” Francis said, “to devise intelligent ways of developing and limiting our power, and to put technology at the service of another type of progress, one which is healthier, more human, more social, more integral."

Kiribati migration "a generation away"

The Commonwealth gold medal winning weightlifter says it will be scary for the Kiribati family being deported from New Zealand after losing a bid to be declared climate change refugees.

He says it is hard to live in the country which has a grim future and the children will find it scary when the ocean comes and covers the land.

He says the case has helped get the message out about the effects of climate change even though it was not successful.

Climate change models too simplistic - report

According to a multi-agency study published this week in Nature Geoscience the predicted increase of severe El Nino and La Nina events will bring increased storm events with extreme coastal flooding and erosion across the Pacific.

Patrick Barnard from the US Geological Survey says other studies have analysed coastal impacts at local and regional levels but this is the first to look at patterns for the whole of the Pacific.

PIF declaration will initiate global recognition of region’s vulnerabilities

It will be presented to the United Nations General Assembly in New York this month.

The UN meeting will be held on September 25-27 in New York to formally adopt an ambitious new sustainable development agenda.

This momentous agenda will serve as the launch pad for action by the international community and by national governments to promote shared prosperity and well-being for the next 15 years.

Not time to leave Kiribati yet says former president

The government MP says he is working hard on issues like overpopulation to help Kiribati people stay where they are.

Tabai's comments come as New Zealand deported a Kiribati man who failed to get climate change refugee status.

He says he can understand why the family wanted to stay in New Zealand because Kiribati faces many problems.

"Sure, it's hard living, it's a hard place to survive but it's still a place to belong to and we have to make it work."

Tabai says the government wants to fight it out to ensure Kiribati people don't have to leave the country.

Ministerial-level appointment demonstrates Australia is serious about the Pacific, Steve Ciobo says

Steve Ciobo, who last week was the parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs under the previous prime minister Tony Abbott, has been sworn in as Australia's Minister for International Development and the Pacific.

"This new position really reflects and really does underscore the Government's renewed focus on the Pacific, the importance of the Pacific, the value that we place on our international development, and of course our very strong desire to continue building a strong relationship with our near South Pacific neighbours," Ciobo told Pacific Beat.

Countries urged to submit climate action plans

Janos Pasztor, Assistant Secretary-General on Climate Change, told a press conference at United Nations Headquarters that, to date, 62 out of 194 parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have submitted their Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC).

The Secretary-General is “eager” to get all countries to submit their climate action plans, Pasztor said, adding “the earlier we get them the better.”

Kids of climate change refugee face deportation

Ioane Teitiota is currently being held in Mt Eden Prison awaiting deportation after being picked up by Immigration officers on Tuesday morning, after his bid to claim climate change refugee status was dismissed.

Immigration New Zealand said Mr Teitiota's wife and three children, who don't have citizenship, have also been served with deportation orders and it "will be engaging with them to facilitate their departure."

It has also been granted a warrant to keep Mr Teitiota in custody until Monday when a bail hearing will be held to decide whether he should stay in jail.

PNG Loop's Breakfast Bites

PM: our soldiers hunting for border kidnap gang

http://www.looppng.com/content/pm-our-soldiers-hunting-border-kidnap-gang

PNG Defence Force troops are searching around the border with Indonesia for two foreigners allegedly being held against their will.

NZ minister takes a hands-off approach to climate victims

NZ minister takes a hands-off approach to climate victims

Defending his government's policies on climate change in parliament, Michael Woodhouse said that the government is making a significant contribution towards greenhouse gas mitigation, and helping Pacific Island countries through aid.

He said Pacific Islanders want to stay in their own countries and that to suggest they want to dash to New Zealand to be saved is a form of colonial paternalism.