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Rapidly expanding human populations and associated economic growth and overconsumption is resulting in serious degradation of the natural environment human survival depends on (Vitousek et al., 1997; Sanderson et al., 2002; Orr, 2004; Alroy, 2010; Branch et al., 2013). Almost half of the global human population currently lives within 150km of the coast (UN Atlas of the Oceans, 2014). This results in severe pressures being placed on marine and coastal environments. Anthropogenic impacts on oceans include physical alterations of the coasts and seafloor, as well as chemical and biological contamination through sewage, industrial wastes and agricultural discharges, dredging, desalination, shipping, and fossil fuel and ore extraction. These pressures, together with overfishing, by-catch, destructive fishing methods (e.g. blast fishing), introduction of invasive species, boat strikes, acoustic pollution, climate-related changes (i.e. ocean acidification, sea level rise, freshwater inundations, cyclones) can cause structural changes in marine communities and the loss of genetic variability and other side-effects of human interference with exceptionally complex ocean ecosystems (Gray et al., 1979; Goldberg, 1995; Vitousek et al. 1997; Islam and Tanaka, 2004; Pauly et al., 2005; Panigada et al., 2006; Crain et al., 2008; Halpern et al., 2008; Ramirez-Llodra et al., 2011)

The 17th Annual Meetiig of the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation was convened in Madi on the 15th May, 2014. The meeting object ves were to: Discuss PIRT core business which included membership, secretariat support, working groups and administrative operations of PIRT Report Dack on outcomes of the 9th Pacific Islands Conference including follow up actions. Discuss and agree on process for endorsement including implementation of the Framework for nature conservation and orotected areas in the Pacific Islands region 2014-2020. Priorities and oppo-tunities for PIRT including key events in 2014

The Pacific regional joint preparatory meeting and its outcomes were formally endorsed by SPREP members at the 25th SPREP Meeting held in Majuro from the 1-3 October, 2014

To understand the amount of national media coverage of environment issues and discuss ways that this could be increased, or if the quality of news coverage could be improved.

By the end of the century, climate change and its impacts may be the dominant direct driver of biodiversity loss and changes in ecosystem services globally. Climate change is already forcing plants and animals to adapt either through shifting habitat, changing life cycles, or the development of new physical traits. Encouraging biodiversity can support efforts to reduce the negative effects of climate change. Trees help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Halting deforestation and forest degradation therefore has an important role in reducing emissions and slowing climate change.

The Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) programme is the largest climate change adaptation initiative in the Pacific region, with activities in 14 countries and territories. PACC has three main areas of activity: practical demonstrations of adaptation measures; driving the mainstreaming of climate risks into national development planning and activities; and sharing knowledge in order to build adaptive capacity. The programme focuses on three key climate-sensitive development sectors: coastal zone management, food security and food production, and water resources management. The PACC programme began in 2009 and is scheduled to end in December 2014. As the first major climate change adaptation programme in the Pacific, PACC has led the way in developing and designing adaptation projects, using a ‘learning by doing’ approach. Many lessons have been learned and better practices developed as the programme has progressed. One of these is the importance of integrating gender into climate change adaptation activities. Gender was mostly overlooked during the initial stages of the programme, but significant efforts have since been made to address this shortcoming and integrate gender across programme activities. This report summarises two key documents produced by PACC as part of the drive to address gender. The first, a Gender Assessment of the programme, was carried out in 2012 to assess the level and degree that the programme addressed gender. The Gender Action Plan, which covers 2013–2014, was developed soon afterwards to address the recommendations arising from the Assessment. Activities in the Plan are currently underway, and will be reported in further PACC publications.

The global environment and development goal of PIGGAREP is to reduce the growth rate of Greenhouse Gas ^missions from fossil fuel use in Pacific Island Countries. PIGGAREP aims to do this by helping to remove the barriers that prevent the widespread and cost effective use of feasible renewable energy technologies.

There are a range of potential options for the final disposal of asbestos containing material and asbestos waste currently located in the Pacific island countries and territories. However, there is a lack of objective evaluation of each option. The disposal options include: i. Do nothing with the asbestos waste; ii. Recycling and reuse of asbestos; iii. Disposal in a secure landfill (either locally or after international transportation); iv. Disposal at sea; and v. Disposal by high temperature transformation.

There are two key components to FINPAC: • providing National Meteorological Services (NMS) with the capacity and tools to deliver and communicate accurate, appropriate and timely weather and climate services to rural communities. • working with communities to strengthen their ability to use and apply meteorological data and information and to develop appropriate plans to address climate change and disasters.