latestUpdates
- 16 september 2012
- Islands First Annual Report for 2011/2012
- 11 july 2011
- Pacific Islands call for Special Representative on Climate Change and Security
On July 20, the Security Council will debate climate change and its implications for peace and security, the first time it has addressed the issue since 2007... | more
- 11 december 2010
- Islands First supports Pacific at COP16
Pacific Islands put world on notice about dangerous impacts of climate change... | more
- 2 december 2010
- For us in the Pacific, the Cancún climate summit is about survival
Marcus Stephen, president of the island of Nauru, says the predicament facing the Pacific's low-lying states is shared the world over... | more
- 28 november 2010
- Cancun Must Set Stage for Planet-Saving Agreement
The Pacific Small Island Developing States, among the most vulnerable countries to climate change, challenged other nations to raise their expectations for the negotiations that began in Cancun today. | more
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- Pacific countries advance UN General Assembly resolution on the protection of coral reefs
The resolution urges immediate action to address climate change and ocean acidification. | more
- 22 september 2010
- Richard Branson and Pacific Islands Unite in War Against Climate Change
Pacific Islands are in the front lines of climate change... | more
- 22 march 2010
- Pacific Ambassadors Agree Climate Change, Fisheries and Funding are Key Issues for Meeting Millennium Development Goals by 2015
Ambassadors met in Tarrytown, New York to finalize their strategic agenda for 2010. | more
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- Pacific Island Nations Raise Expectations for Cancun on "World Water Day"
Speaking at the United Nations conference "Water for Life," the Pacific countries highlighted the serious impacts climate change is having on water security in their region and the urgent need for international action. | more
- 4 january 2010
- Semesterferien? Werde doch Diplomat!
Weil sich Kleinststaaten wie Tuvalu, Palau und Mikronesian keine eigenen Abgesandten leisten können, werden sie bei den Vereinten Nationen von Studenten vertreten. Diese sind vollwertige Diplomaten - auf Zeit. | more
- 20 december 2009
- Islands First attends COP15 in Copenhagen
Islands First, with the help of a team of motivated volunteers, helped support several delegations from Pacific Small Island Developing States at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which was convened in Copenhagen this past December. | more
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- 16 november 2009
- Palau Calls for UN Bottom Trawling Ban
Palau will call for a ban on bottom trawling at the United Nations this week when the General Assembly resumes negotiations on a resolution to make high seas fisheries sustainable. | more
- 22 september 2009
- Pacific Leaders Call upon International Community to Protect Vulnerable Nations from Climate Change
The Pacific Small Island Developing States hosted a reception in honor of the people most culnerable to climate change following the UN High Level Summit. | more
- 3 june 2009
- Island Nations Pass U.N. General Assembly Resolution on Climate Change and Security
The General Assembly of the United Nations unanimously passed a resolution urging the relevant organs of the U.N. to intensify their efforts to address the security implications of climate change, including sea-level rise. | more
- 29 january 2009
- Ambassador Stuart Beck speaks at NYU Wagner
H.E. Mr. Stuart Beck, Ambassador for Palau and Chair of Islands First spoke at NYU Wagner School of Public Service about the security implications of climate change and the importance of the G.A. climate change resolution. | more
- 9 december 2008
- Islands First and Green Drinks NYC host "Island to Island Holiday Party"
H.E. Mrs. Fekitamoueloa 'Utoikamanu, Ambassador for Tonga, addressed the full house of Manhattan Islanders about the emerging climate crisis faced by small island states. | more
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- 17 november 2008
- Islands First co-hosts Reception to discuss Climate Change implications for Islands
Islands First and NYU’s Asian/Pacific/American Institute co-hosted an event to discuss the security implications of climate change. | more
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- 31 october 2008
- 50 Member States Submit Climate Change Resolution
A group of over 50 member states of the UN General Assembly, led by the Pacific Small Island Developing States, has submitted a draft resolution urging the Security Council to follow up on its thematic debate "Energy, Security and Climate" and to take action to address the very real threats to international peace and security resulting from the negative impacts of climate change. | more
- 11 september 2008
- 19 Co-Sponsors for General Assembly Resolution
The UN missions of the twelve island nations have continued to advance the General Assembly resolution on "The threat of climate change to international peace and security", which now has 19 co-sponsors in total. The resolution charges the Security Council with its Charter responsibility to protect member states. Read the recent press release from the Palau Mission and the new draft of the resolution at the links below. | read press release | read resolution
- 10 september 2008
- Pictures of Coastal Erosion in Palau
One of the pernicious effects of rising sea levels is the erosion of coastal beaches and infrastructure. These pictures, taken in Palau this past summer, depict some of the early signs of this growing problem. | view pictures
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- 2 september 2008
- PSIDS Draft Resolution
Faced with the existential threat posed by climate change and the stalemate of international negotiations, the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) are pushing for decisive action. The UN missions of the twelve island nations have circulated a draft General Assembly resolution on "The threat of climate change to international peace and security" to all member states. The resolution charges the Security Council with its Charter responsibility to protect member states. | read press release | read resolution
- 23 april 2008
- Islands First Establishment Luncheon
Islands First celebrated its official establishment today at a luncheon hosted in the UN Delegates Dining Room. Attendees from ten Pacific Small Island Developing States spoke in turn about the problems facing small islands and the role for Islands First. Representatives from several foundations and media organizations supporting Islands First were also in attendance. | more