7 February 2025, Apia Samoa - As the world look to the next session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop a plastic treaty, members of the Pacific media fraternity are reminded to enter the 2024 Vision Pasifika Media Awards – Cleaner Pacific to ensure their work to highlight the urgent need to tackle plastic pollution is recognised and celebrated.
Despite contributing less than 1.3 per cent to global plastic pollution, Pacific Island populations are disproportionately affected by the plastic pollution crisis threatening livelihoods of Pacific communities. Pollution is one of the triple planetary crises threatening the planet, alongside climate change and biodiversity loss.
Launched by the Prime Minister of Niue, Hon. Dalton Tagelagi during the 7th Pacific Media Summit in Niue last year, entries for the 2024 Vision Pasifika Media Award – Cleaner Pacific close at 4.00pm 30 April 2025, Samoa time.
The Award is a partnership facilitated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) with the Government of Australia through the support for Pacific engagement in the INC on plastic pollution and the Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP), Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC) and the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA).
SPREP’s Director of Waste Management and Pollution Control (WMPC), Mr Anthony Talouli, encourages members of the Pacific media to enter the Award.
“In the Pacific, we all are aware of the impact of plastic pollution on us, not only on our livelihood but our everyday lives. It also touches on other areas of importance to us like health, ecosystem and our planet,” said Mr Talouli.
“The Pacific Media is an integral part of global efforts to manage all wastes and understand the challenges of pollution control. Their role on telling our stories and amplifying our resilient Pacific voices on the frontlines of the impacts of waste and plastic pollution crisis is extremely important and I encourage them to submit entries in the competition.”
Currently open for submissions, the Award calls upon our Pacific media to submit published, or broadcast, media stories that have highlighted our Pacific challenges and, or the ways that our Pacific people have addressed these, for our survival.
“It is said that nowhere on Earth is untouched by plastic. Not even a mother’s womb. Plastic pollution is everywhere,” said Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner Senior Adviser, Mr Peni Suveinakama.
“As agenda setters, our journalists of the region play an important role in shaping the thinking and behaviour of our people and our policy makers. We at OPOC believe they can start by sharing stories that highlight impacts of plastic pollution and best practises by our people in managing this crisis. I encourage them to submit those stories that create rippling effect in their communities.”
The Award celebrates the role of the Pacific media in amplifying our Pacific voice locally, regionally and globally to manage all wastes and understand the challenges of pollution control. As the Award’s Media partner, PINA’s Manager and Editor, Ms Makereta Komai, is excited about the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the Pacific Media’s contribution to the collective work to tackle plastic pollution.
"The power of storytelling can turn the tide on plastic pollution. As journalists, your words and images can shine a light on the crisis facing our Pacific, inspiring action to protect our oceans, communities, and future generations. Your story could be the spark that drives change,” she said. “PINA wants to encourage Pacific journalists to submit stories of sustainable practices, stories that have influenced policy and legislation or empowered citizens to take action, in addressing plastic pollution in their countries.”
The 2024 Vision Pasifika Media Award – Cleaner Pacific takes place at an exciting time as the work to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment continues.
INC-5 in Busan Korea had hoped to conclude negotiations and finalise the text of the agreement. However the meeting ended without a deal, with delegates agreeing to resume the work at INC-5.2 in Nairobi, Kenya later this year. INC-5 followed four earlier rounds of negotiations: INC-1 in Punta del Este in November 2022, INC-2 in Paris in June 2023, INC-3 in Nairobi in November 2023, and INC-4 in Ottawa in April 2024.
The Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Ms Inger Andersen, speaking at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland said that after two years of talks, the world is closer to securing a treaty for the ages.
“A high degree of convergence has been reached in 29 out of 32 articles that are proposed to make up the treaty text. However, three areas require significant further work. Products, including the issue of chemicals. Sustainable production and consumption. Financing, including a financial mechanism and aligning financial flows,” she said.
“There is a strong determination across Member States, across communities, across science, across civil society and across industry to get the treaty done. But a big political and diplomatic push is needed in the coming months, with the engagement of all stakeholders and strong G20 leadership, to lay the ground for success at INC 5.2.”
For more information on the categories, prizes and details of how to enter the 2024 Vision Pasifika Media Awards – Cleaner Pacific, click here.