Protecting the environment, the 'Measina', for future generations

Abstract

It’s Day 4 of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024 in Samoa. As part of the Greening of CHOGM initiative, businesses, private sectors, and key industries like accommodation and food & beverage have taken serious efforts to reduce plastic use and waste. We speak with two women leading this change at the Manaia Women’s Maketi (Market): Papali'i Mele Maualaivao, Country Program Coordinator for UN Women, and Fetu Saili, a market vendor. Neeraj Chadha, Marriott International’s Multi-Property Vice President for the Pacific Islands, also shares the plastic reduction efforts his hotel is undertaking. SPREP through the Australian Government funded, Pacific Ocean Litter Project #POLP is working together with Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Samoa (MNRE) to ensure a more sustainable and environmentally friendly Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting #CHOGM, currently underway in Samoa.