BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECCDM) Trevor Mahaga thanked partners, businesses, and people who have championed recycling efforts in the Solomon Islands.

Delivering his keynote address on the SIBC Radio Talk Back show on Sunday to mark Global Recycling Day 2025, Minister Mahaga thanked the relevant partners for recognising the need to address environmental issues and support through funding and technical support to relevant government agencies.

Mahaga also thanked provincial governments for their continuous collaboration with the national government through his ministry and other ministries and stakeholders to discuss environmental challenges facing the provinces and find a way forward for a clean, safe, and beautiful province.

“I commend your efforts to initiate plans and collaborate with other partners for a clean and sustainable environment for our people and communities,’’ he said.

He also commends the NGOs, churches, schools, and civil society groups for their partnership and efforts to safeguard the environment.

“I wish to acknowledge the foreign groups for your outstanding work and efforts in promoting recycling and contributions towards waste management. The recycling companies and private sector for your work in recyclable collections of some materials and promotion of sustainable production within your industries.

He also acknowledges the efforts by recycling companies in Honiara and the provinces and industries that have policies and plans to promote sustainable consumption and production.

“The community initiatives, as well as volunteer groups and individuals that work towards creating free and healthy communities with proper waste management practices in place, as well as supporting community-based natural resource management initiatives. I am encouraged by the efforts championed by our recycling heroes,’’ said Mahaga.

“This must be sustained. Every contribution counts. Together, we can fight waste and pollution and build a sustainable future for the Solomon Islands,’’ he said.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

One case relating to the violation of the plastic ban regulation is currently with the court while another is under investigation.

Wendy Beti, chief environment officer of the Environment and Conservation division provided the update during the Global Recycling Day 2025 SIBC Radio Talk Back show on Sunday.

She said that the regulation comes into force on the 1st of September 2023 and its full implementation comes in place second of March 2024.

“Recently we have one case where that is currently with the court and there is another case currently under investigation,” said Beti.

“On the plastic ban, as we know, the regulation that bans single-use plastic focuses on five types of items, Plastic shopping bags, Plastic straws, PET water bottles less than 1.5 litres, Polystyrofoam takeaway plates cups forks and spoons and Plastic cups, plates and cutleries (knives, forks and spoons),” she said.

She stressed that Businesses or vendors are supposed not to distribute, sell or supply those products.

Beti said that the Ministry with stakeholders including the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), Honiara City Council (HCC) Law enforcement department, and Customs, collaborated previously to carry out joint monitoring throughout last year.

“Monitoring still going on,” she said.

She said that the Ministry called on the public for anyone with information on any non-compliance with the plastic ban to report it.

“Because the moment anyone still distributes, sells or distributes those banned items, you are breaking the regulation,” said Beti.

She further said that the enforcement agencies comprised of different stakeholders are still working closely together to carry out enforcement plastic ban in the country.

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By Loretta B Manele

Changes for women and girls’ rights in Solomon Islands is not happening fast enough.

Aaron Pitaqae, deputy secretary for the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) raised this earlier this month at the International Women’s Day (IWD) event at the National Museum Auditorium.

Referring to the event’s theme “Accelerate Action for All Women and Girls; Rights, Equality and Empowerment”, he said it is telling us that while changes are happening in the realization of women’s rights, equality and empowerment, these changes are not happening fast enough.

Pitaqae stressed that we need to speed up and accelerate actions and steps within respective government ministries, organizations, agencies and sectors to enrich long historical issues facing women of our country.

He added that at the same time, we must ensure that we don’t backtrack.

Pitaqae mentioned that in our efforts, we are faced with unprecedented and emerging issues.

Meanwhile, he said the Solomon Islands government through MWYCFA, is responsible for a significant policy framework called “Affirmative Action Strategy 2022-2027” that seeks to support the acceleration of advancement and empowerment of women in Solomon Islands.

“Accelerating women’s prospects and pathway to leadership decision-making and governance, this is a first of its kind for Solomon Islands.”

He explained that the strategy establishes commitment that adopting temporary special measures is key to accelerating equality between women and men.

Pitaqae highlighted that as we celebrate this event and work through 2025, we should ask ourselves whether we are accelerating action or if we are still taking our time to do so.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

An event will be organised on Tuesday this week to mark World Meteorological Day 2025.

The theme of World Meteorological Day 2025 is “Closing the early warning gap together’’.

A statement from the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMET) said that climate change is a real and undeniable threat to the entire civilisation.

“The effects are already visible and will be catastrophic unless we act now,’’ the statement said.

World Meteorological Day is celebrated annually on March 23rd to commemorate the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1950.

This day highlights the critical role of the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in ensuring public safety, economic stability, and environmental protection.

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Solomon Islands suffering biodiversity loss, climate change, waste and pollution: Environment minister Mahaga

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

While the Solomon Islands is rich in biodiversity which its people, culture and way of life depend on, it is at the front line of biodiversity loss, climate change, waste and pollution.

Trevor Mahaga, minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology service highlighted this during this year’s Global World Recycling Day on SIBC Radio talkback show on Sunday, March 23.

He said these issues pose a threat to the economy and livelihoods depriving the country’s future generations of the right to a pristine environment.

“Recycling is a key part of the secular economy, helping to protect our natural resources. Global World Recycling Day calls for innovative solutions, collaborative efforts, and policy advancements that will help break down barriers to effective recycling,” he said.

He said that it is about turning obstacles into opportunities whether it is improving waste systems, introducing cutting-edge recycling technologies, or expanding access to recycling programmes.

He said that the Global World Recycling Day highlights the urgent need for innovative collaborations to address the escalating waste management and recycling issues in the Solomon Islands.

At the global level, Minister Mahaga said that there is an effort for a new 3R and Secular Economy Declaration 2025-2034.

He said that this presents the opportunity for regional and national cooperation, knowledge sharing, and innovative waste management solutions.

“This was shared during the Eastern Pacific 3R forum, with the Solomon Islands participating, and it signifies the government’s commitment to promoting the 3R principles, reduce, reuse, and recycle, to be aligned with our national efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, particularly SDG 12 on Sustainable Construction and Production, SDG 13 on Climate Action, and SDG 14 on Protecting Marine Ecosystems,” said Mahaga.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Trevor Mahaga has acknowledged citizen-driven activities that positively reflect this year’s Global Recycling Day theme.

This year’s theme for Global Recycling Day is Recycling Heroes which aims to recognise people, places and activities and showcase how recycling contributes to an environmentally stable planet and a greener future for all.

“As we commemorate Global Recycling Day 2025 at the national level, I would like to reflect and acknowledge the resurgence of stakeholder partners, private sectors, and citizen-driven activities that reflect positively on the theme,’’ said Minister Mahaga.

“These efforts and partnerships have been made possible through coordination and support from the national government, government partners, regional institutions, the private sector, and other stakeholders.

“Two of the significant national efforts I want to highlight include the Solomon Islands recently drafting on 1-September-2023 legislation to ban 5 types of single-use plastics,’’ he said.

 Managa revealed that through the work led by his ministry, they are now working towards having in place a product deposit legislation and a container deposit system.

He said that the product deposit legislation and deposit system provide a regular funding mechanism to enable the collection and export of recyclable items.

“When trapped items are imported, a small fee collection and deposit is applied, the fee providing recycling agencies with a sustainable income to fund recycling activities, and the deposit providing an incentive for consumers to retain products to a recycled collection point,’’ he said.

Global Recycling Day is celebrated every year on March 18th. This year 2025, the event falls on a Saturday 23^rd March.

The day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the impact of waste on the environment and encourage people to take action to protect the planet for future generations.

Global Recycling Day was first established in 2018 by the Global Recycling Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to promote the importance of recycling and support sustainable development.

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BY JOHN HOAUANIHAU

Local conservationist Andrew Taraha has shared his biblical views of protecting God’s creation as logging takes its toll on destroying the country’s natural resources and damaging the environment.

Taraha, also the Kira Tribe conservation coordinator has been working with his community, the Kira tribe, to help them understand the importance and value of their land for the past years.

He has also worked with the tribal people of Kwaio in the high Land to help map their land as well as communities in the Are`Are Region.

“Today, I want to share my biblical perspective on protecting God’s creation and the tragedy of a tribal land destroyed by logging just a few kilometres from our Kira protected area,” said Taraha.

With deep sorrow, his people watch as their forests, rivers, and land are destroyed before their eyes.

“God entrusted us to be stewards of His creation, Genesis 2:15, yet greed and corruption have led many to sell the land for temporary gain, forgetting that what is lost can never be restored.

“The trees that once gave us life, the rivers that quenched our thirst, and the land that our ancestors cared for all are being sacrificed for money,” shared Taraha.

“But what does the word of God say? For the love of money is the root of all evil,1 Timothy 6:10,” he quotes.

Taraha also believed that money kills when it takes the place of God.

“Logging companies promise wealth, but what they leave behind is destruction. The forest, given to us by God, provides everything we need food, water, medicine, shelter, and protection. Yet, when the trees are cut down, the rivers polluted, and the land ruined, what will be left is hardship, Poverty and Suffering.

“One of our chiefs once said, I do not worry about money. I worry about my forest. Everything in the forest is free. But if the forest is gone, life will be hard. You cannot just think of now—you must think of tomorrow,” he said.

He also emphasised that the Bible warns against short-term thinking.

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, Proverbs 13:22,” he quotes.

He said that the ancestors took care of the lands knowing that it was not only for them but for future generations, a sacred duty to protect what God has given.

Concern Taraha also shared how greed destroys God’s creation.

“Logging companies come like wolves in sheep’s clothing, Matthew 7:15, using money and deception to turn brother against brother. They manipulate our customary land processes, influencing leaders with bribes and false promises. Some chiefs, who were once guardians of the land, have fallen into temptation, forgetting that true wealth is found in God, not in money,” he said.

He stressed that when decisions are made without seeking wisdom, destruction follows.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish,” he said.

“God has given us dominion over His creation, but not to destroy it, Psalm 24:1. The earth does not belong to us—it belongs to the Lord, and we are its caretakers. If we sell what God has entrusted to us, we are like Esau, who traded his birthright for a bowl of stew, Genesis 25:29-34. He gained momentary pleasure but lost his inheritance forever.

“We do not need the wealth of logging companies. We need the richness of God’s blessings,” he said.

“We need our land, our water, our traditions. We need to protect our forests, not just for ourselves but for our children. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose his soul, Mark 8:36.

“Let us stand firm. Let us choose life. For once the trees are gone, the water polluted, and the land barren money will not bring them back,” Taraha concluded.

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