BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO
PACIFIC Islands Leaders have expressed their commitment to comprehensive and integrated efforts to address environmental issues across the Pacific Island Countries (PIC).
This was highlighted during PALM8 in Japan. During the reaffirmation, importance of sustainable development, management and conservation of environment has been highlighted.
The issues expressed includes promotion of environmentally sound waste management and the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) policies, conservation of biodiversity and sustainable development of natural resources, the need for all Pacific Rim countries to take active steps to conserve the marine environment including through prevention and reduction of marine litter, in particular plastics, in the Pacific Ocean
Also further to it is the recognition of the importance of addressing the increasingly serious problems associated with shipwrecks and particularly Forum country Members affected by shipwrecks and unexploded ordnance from World War II.
Japan leaders and PIC leaders are committed to address these issues.
