AGP Executive Report

Vanuatu–France Sovereignty: Vanuatu is stepping up its push to get France to hand back the disputed Matthew and Hunter Islands, pointing to deep cultural, spiritual and historical links to the remote volcanic outposts as negotiations continue. Pacific Ocean Science & Skills: Pasifika students from Vanuatu and across the region spent 26 days on the RV Tangaroa “Floating University” voyage, using the research ship as a floating lab to build practical ocean and climate know-how. Fuel Measurement for Fair Trade: Australia’s National Measurement Institute donated six fuel trolleys to Pacific Island countries, including Vanuatu, to help authorities test fuel pumps and improve trust in fuel transactions. Climate Adaptation Funding: The Global Environment Facility approved new climate resilience projects for Fiji, FSM, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, with about US$14m in grants plus major co-financing to tackle flooding, sea-level rise and coastal erosion. Marine Tech for the Blue Economy: A new report highlights how marine biotechnology—from aquaculture and seaweed to marine biomaterials and coral resilience—is becoming a key investment pathway for Oceania. Ocean Protection Push: Fiji joined an international effort to protect the ocean’s mesopelagic “twilight zone,” calling for precautionary safeguards and more research before new activities expand.

Floating University at Sea: Three Pasifika students (including Vanuatu’s Jessica Maoh) spent 26 days aboard New Zealand’s RV Tangaroa, a “floating lab” mapping seabed life and climate conditions, to build ocean-management skills and hazard-readiness for the region. Fuel Measurement for Fair Trade: Australia’s National Measurement Institute donated six fuel trolleys to Pacific Island Forum countries, including Vanuatu, to help test pump accuracy at service stations and depots—supporting trusted transactions and stronger local capability. Climate-Resistant Reefs: An AI-based study using decades of coral data estimates about 64,000 square miles of reefs could still resist climate change by 2050, with “coral refuges” highlighted across multiple countries. Pacific Export Survey Boost: The 2026 Pacific Islands Export Survey hit its highest participation in more than a decade, with early signs that exporters are diversifying and adopting digital tools despite tougher finance and shifting trade rules. Vanuatu Climate Adaptation Funding: The GEF approved new Pacific climate adaptation projects, including one for Vanuatu, to prepare for flooding, sea-level rise, and coastal erosion. Vanuatu Tourism Strategy 2026–2028: The Vanuatu Tourism Office launched a new marketing roadmap aiming for 120,000 overnight arrivals by end-2026 and 150,000 annual visitors by 2028, built to guide travelers from awareness to booking.

Climate Resilience Research: An AI-based study using 45,000 coral observations since 1960 estimates about 64,000 square miles of coral reefs could still resist climate change by 2050, with the strongest “coral refuge” areas mapped across places including the Philippines, Indonesia, Cuba, the Bahamas and Australia. Pacific Trade & Digital Adoption: The 2026 Pacific Islands Export Survey has hit its highest participation in more than a decade, with early results pointing to exporters diversifying into new markets and adopting digital tools even as finance gets harder. GEF Climate Funding for Vanuatu: The Global Environment Facility has approved four Pacific climate adaptation projects worth about US$14m in grants (plus US$43m co-financing), including support for Vanuatu to prepare detailed studies and designs to tackle flooding, sea-level rise and coastal erosion. Indigenous-Led Conservation: Traditional leaders and conservation groups are meeting across the Pacific to push Indigenous-led stewardship and climate resilience, with Vanuatu among participants. Vanuatu–France Islands Dispute: Vanuatu is pressing France to hand back the remote Matthew and Hunter Islands, citing cultural and historical ties as negotiations continue. Vanuatu Tourism Strategy: The Vanuatu Tourism Office has launched its 2026–2028 marketing strategy, targeting 120,000 overnight arrivals by end of 2026 and 150,000 annual visitors by 2028.

Nature-based Climate Resilience: Vanuatu has officially launched new policy tools under the PPIN project, including guidance to plug nature-based solutions into the National Adaptation Plan and coastal resilience/forestry planning—positioning healthy forests, mangroves, reefs and seagrass as real “infrastructure” for cyclone and coastline protection. Sovereignty & Remote Islands: Vanuatu’s push to reclaim the disputed Matthew and Hunter Islands from France is heating up, with talks tied to cultural, spiritual and historical connections to the volcanic outposts. Pacific Conservation & Indigenous Leadership: Pacific leaders, traditional governance groups and youth advocates are meeting in a regional learning exchange focused on Indigenous-led conservation and climate resilience, with Vanuatu among participants. Climate Funding for Adaptation: The GEF has approved four new Pacific climate adaptation projects (including Vanuatu) to help communities and ecosystems handle flooding, sea-level rise and coastal erosion. Digital Safety & Hate Online: A new report to a royal commission links real-world attacks on Jewish people with “spikes of hate” online, highlighting how platform governance can act earlier. Vanuatu in the News Tech Ecosystem: A study on dog-human cooperation across five continents includes a Vanuatu case, adding to global science on how animals communicate with people.

Nature-based climate resilience: Vanuatu has officially launched new policy tools under the PPIN project to help weave nature-based solutions into national adaptation planning, coastal resilience, and forestry—positioning healthy forests, mangroves, reefs and seagrass as practical “infrastructure” for protecting people and livelihoods. GEF funding for adaptation: The Global Environment Facility approved four Pacific climate adaptation projects (about US$14m in grants plus $43m co-financing), including support for Vanuatu to prepare initiatives tackling flooding, sea-level rise and coastal erosion. Indigenous conservation in the Pacific: Traditional leaders, conservation practitioners and youth groups are meeting for a Pacific Inclusive Conservation Learning Exchange, with Vanuatu among participants pushing Indigenous-led stewardship and climate resilience. Volcano hazards and Traditional Knowledge: A new regional study says Indigenous oral traditions across the Pacific—including Vanuatu—can preserve detailed eruption histories and warning signs, helping modern disaster preparedness when paired with scientific data. Vanuatu–France islands dispute: Vanuatu is intensifying its push to reclaim Matthew and Hunter Islands from France, citing deep cultural and spiritual ties as negotiations continue. Digital governance and hate: A report to a royal commission links real-world attacks on Jewish communities with “spikes of hate” online, highlighting how platforms may need earlier intervention.

Climate Adaptation Funding: The Global Environment Facility has approved four Pacific climate adaptation projects, including Vanuatu, with about US$14m in grants and $43m in expected co-financing to help communities and ecosystems handle flooding, sea-level rise and coastal erosion. Nature-Based Resilience in Vanuatu: Vanuatu has launched and handed over three policy tools under the PPIN project to better plug nature-based solutions (forests, mangroves, reefs and seagrass) into national adaptation planning and coastal resilience. Volcano Hazard Knowledge: A new regional study says Indigenous oral traditions across the Pacific—including Vanuatu—can reveal past volcanic eruptions and improve disaster preparedness when paired with science. Tourism Strategy Rollout: The Vanuatu Tourism Office has launched its 2026–2028 marketing strategy, targeting 120,000 overnight arrivals by end of 2026 and 150,000 visitors by 2028. Digital Legacy Reminder: A report highlights how Facebook memorialisation requests can fail, and why managing your digital afterlife matters for keeping access to online assets. Pacific Ocean Protection: Fiji has joined an international effort to protect the ocean’s “twilight zone,” pushing precautionary safeguards and more research.

Vanuatu–France Islands Dispute: Vanuatu is pressing France to hand back the remote Matthew and Hunter Islands, pointing to deep cultural, spiritual and historical ties as formal negotiations continue and the sovereignty fight spills into wider Pacific politics. Nature-Based Climate Resilience: Vanuatu has launched new policy tools under the PPIN project to help weave forests, mangroves, reefs and seagrass into national adaptation planning and coastal resilience decisions. Pacific Ocean Protection: Fiji has joined an international effort to protect the ocean’s mesopelagic “twilight zone,” backing precautionary safeguards for emerging threats like deep-sea mining and pushing for more research. Dog–Human Bond Research: A new global study finds hunting dogs and their owners cooperate and communicate in strikingly similar ways across five continents, including Vanuatu, suggesting the bond is ancient and universal. Tourism Strategy 2026–2028: The Vanuatu Tourism Office has officially rolled out its 2026–2028 marketing strategy, aiming for 120,000 overnight arrivals by end of 2026 and 150,000 annual visitors by 2028. Volcanic Hazards & Traditional Knowledge: A new study says Indigenous oral traditions across the Pacific—including Vanuatu—can preserve detailed eruption histories that may improve modern disaster preparedness.

Vanuatu–France Islands Dispute: Vanuatu is escalating its push to reclaim the remote Matthew and Hunter Islands from France, tying sovereignty to cultural, spiritual and historical links as formal negotiations continue. Nature-Based Climate Resilience: Vanuatu has officially launched new policy tools under the PPIN project to help embed nature-based solutions—forests, mangroves, reefs and seagrass—into national adaptation planning and coastal resilience. Volcano Hazard Knowledge: A new regional study argues Indigenous oral traditions can preserve detailed volcanic eruption histories, offering practical lessons for modern disaster preparedness across the Pacific, including Vanuatu. Climate Science at UN Talks: Pacific leaders, including Vanuatu, are warning that attempts to weaken climate science references in UN negotiations could put Pasifika lives and livelihoods at risk. El Niño Preparedness: SPREP is urging Pacific communities to start preparing now that an El Niño event has been declared underway, stressing early action and staying informed. Digital Legacy & Social Media: A report highlights how difficult it can be to memorialise deceased people’s Facebook accounts, raising concerns about managing digital afterlives. Global Research on Human–Dog Bonds: New multi-country research finds hunting dogs and owners cooperate in strikingly similar ways across very different cultures, suggesting deep evolutionary roots. Tech & Finance Branding: Titan FX marks its second year with footballer Keisuke Honda and rolls out “Dream Beyond Borders 2.0,” including a new commercial series.

Vanuatu–France Islands Dispute: Vanuatu is stepping up its push to reclaim the remote Matthew and Hunter Islands from France, tying the sovereignty fight to deep cultural and spiritual links and ongoing negotiations. Nature-Based Climate Resilience: Vanuatu has launched new policy tools under the PPIN project to help weave nature-based solutions (forests, mangroves, reefs and seagrass) into national adaptation planning and coastal resilience. Volcano Science with Traditional Knowledge: A new regional study argues Indigenous oral traditions can reveal volcanic eruption histories and hazard lessons, including cases involving Vanuatu. Pacific Climate Warning: SPREP is urging Pacific communities, including Vanuatu, to prepare for El Niño after it was declared underway by the WMO’s Pacific Regional Climate Centre. Tourism Strategy Boost: The Vanuatu Tourism Office has officially rolled out the 2026–2028 Tourism Marketing Strategy, targeting 120,000 overnight arrivals by end-2026 and 150,000 by 2028.

Digital rights & grief: A new report says Facebook is still not reliably memorialising accounts after death, leaving families struggling to manage their “digital legacy” and keep online identities accessible. Vanuatu–France sovereignty: Vanuatu is pressing France to hand back the disputed Matthew and Hunter Islands, citing cultural and spiritual ties as negotiations continue. Nature-based climate resilience: Vanuatu has officially launched three policy tools under the PPIN project to help weave forests, mangroves, reefs and seagrass into national adaptation planning and coastal resilience. Tourism strategy: The Vanuatu Tourism Office has rolled out the 2026–2028 Tourism Marketing Strategy, targeting 120,000 overnight arrivals by end-2026 and 150,000 visitors by 2028. Science & hazards: A regional study highlights how Indigenous oral traditions can improve understanding of volcanic eruptions and strengthen disaster preparedness across the Pacific, including Vanuatu. Climate talks: Pacific leaders, including Vanuatu, warn at UN climate meetings that attempts to weaken climate science put Pasifika lives and livelihoods at risk.

Nature-based climate resilience: Vanuatu has launched three policy tools under the PPIN project to help weave nature-based solutions into national adaptation, coastal resilience and forestry planning—positioning healthy forests, mangroves, reefs and seagrass as practical “infrastructure” for protecting people. Volcano hazard knowledge: A new regional study (including Vanuatu) says Indigenous oral traditions can preserve detailed volcanic eruption histories and warning signs, helping modern disaster preparedness when paired with scientific data. Pacific climate talks: Pacific leaders at UN climate meetings in Bonn warned that attempts to weaken climate science references put Pasifika lives and livelihoods at risk, with Vanuatu among those pushing back. Sovereignty dispute: Vanuatu continues negotiations with France over the disputed Matthew and Hunter Islands, citing cultural and spiritual ties as talks play out alongside wider decolonisation debates. El Niño readiness: SPREP urged Pacific communities to prepare for El Niño after WMO’s Pacific climate centre declared an event underway, stressing early action and staying informed.

Vanuatu–France Sovereignty: Vanuatu is pushing harder in talks with France over the disputed Matthew and Hunter Islands, citing deep cultural and spiritual ties to the remote volcanic outposts and highlighting how the dispute has become entangled with wider Pacific politics. Nature-Based Climate Resilience: Vanuatu has launched three policy tools under the PPIN project to help weave nature-based solutions—like forests, mangroves, reefs and seagrass—into national adaptation planning, coastal resilience and forestry decisions. Climate Science at Bonn: Pacific leaders, including Vanuatu officials, warned that attempts to weaken climate science in UN negotiations could put island lives and livelihoods at risk, with calls to “defend the science” inside the talks. Volcano Hazard Knowledge: A new regional study argues that Indigenous oral traditions can add practical, place-based insights into volcanic eruptions, improving how hazards are understood across the Pacific—including Vanuatu. El Niño Prep: SPREP urged Pacific communities to prepare for El Niño after it was declared underway, stressing early action and staying informed as impacts vary by country.

Vanuatu–France Sovereignty: Vanuatu is stepping up its push to reclaim the disputed Matthew and Hunter Islands from France, tying the case to cultural, spiritual and historical links as formal negotiations continue and regional politics swirl around the volcanic outposts. Nature-Based Climate Resilience: Vanuatu has launched and handed over three policy tools under the PPIN project to help embed nature-based solutions—forests, mangroves, reefs and seagrass—into national adaptation planning and coastal resilience decisions. Pacific Ocean Protection: Fiji has joined Panama to launch a Mesopelagic Zone Conservation Challenge, urging precautionary safeguards against fishing and deep-sea mining while expanding research on the ocean’s “twilight zone,” a key part of food webs and carbon storage. Climate Science at UN Talks: Pacific leaders, including Vanuatu’s minister, warned at Bonn that attempts to weaken climate science in UN negotiations put Pasifika lives and livelihoods at risk. El Niño Prep: SPREP is urging Pacific communities, including Vanuatu, to prepare for El Niño impacts after it was declared underway. Volcanic Knowledge for Hazards: A regional study highlights how Indigenous oral traditions can improve understanding of volcanic eruptions and strengthen disaster preparedness when paired with science.

Sovereignty & Culture: Vanuatu is ramping up pressure on France to hand back the disputed Matthew and Hunter Islands, arguing the remote volcanic outposts are tied to Vanuatu’s Tafea Province through deep cultural and spiritual links, as negotiations continue over the islands’ future. Ocean Protection: Fiji has joined Panama to launch a global Mesopelagic “Twilight Zone” Conservation Challenge, urging precaution before expanding fishing or deep-sea mining and calling for stronger research and management to protect the 200–1,000m ocean layer that supports food webs and stores carbon. Climate Science in UN Talks: Pacific leaders, including Vanuatu’s climate minister, warned at Bonn that attempts to weaken climate science references in UN texts put Pasifika lives at risk, with Vanuatu and other small island states pushing back on language around the 1.5°C goal. Nature-Based Resilience: Vanuatu officially launched new policy tools under the PPIN project to help integrate nature-based solutions into national adaptation planning, coastal resilience, and forestry decisions. Volcano Knowledge for Preparedness: A new regional study says Indigenous oral traditions can reveal volcanic eruption histories that modern surveys may miss, supporting better disaster preparedness across the Pacific including Vanuatu. El Niño Readiness: SPREP urged Pacific communities to prepare for El Niño after the WMO’s Pacific climate centre declared the event underway, stressing early action and staying informed. Vanuatu Tech/Science Policy: Vanuatu’s tourism sector also moved forward with a 2026–2028 marketing strategy targeting 120,000 overnight arrivals by end of 2026 and 150,000 by 2028.

Nature-based climate resilience: Vanuatu has officially launched three policy tools under the PPIN project, including guidance for weaving nature-based solutions into the National Adaptation Plan and coastal resilience/forestry planning, pushing healthy forests, mangroves, reefs and seagrass as practical “infrastructure” for disaster risk reduction. Volcano knowledge for hazards: A new international study (including Vanuatu case work) says Indigenous oral traditions can preserve detailed volcanic eruption histories and warning signs, helping modern hazard planning when paired with scientific data. Climate science defended: Pacific leaders at UN climate talks in Bonn warned that attempts to weaken climate science references put Pasifika lives and livelihoods at risk, with Vanuatu’s minister among those pushing back. El Niño preparation: SPREP urged communities to start preparing now after an El Niño event was declared underway, stressing early action and staying informed. Tourism strategy update: The Vanuatu Tourism Office launched the 2026–2028 Tourism Marketing Strategy, aiming for 120,000 overnight arrivals by end of 2026 and 150,000 annual visitors by 2028. Seismic shock report: A week of coverage also included a surge of major earthquakes across the Pacific Ring of Fire, highlighting ongoing regional geohazard risk.

Seismic Watch: A rare Pacific Ring of Fire doublet hit Venezuela with back-to-back M7.2 and M7.5 quakes, causing ruinous shaking and damage including airport disruption, while a separate M7.2 offshore quake struck Japan, halting Shinkansen services and rattling as far as Tokyo. Tourism Strategy: Vanuatu Tourism Office officially launched its 2026–2028 marketing strategy at the Tourism Market Forum, targeting 120,000 overnight arrivals by end-2026 and 150,000 visitors by 2028 through a staged push from awareness to trip planning. Nature-Based Climate Resilience: Under the PPIN project, Vanuatu received three policy tools to embed nature-based solutions (forests, mangroves, reefs, seagrass) into adaptation planning and coastal resilience. Deep-Sea Science & Policy: Vanuatu is part of wider moves to protect ocean ecosystems, including a new Mesopelagic “twilight zone” conservation challenge launched by Fiji and Panama to tackle threats like fishing and deep-sea mining. Pacific Climate Politics: Pacific leaders at Bonn warned that attempts to weaken climate science in UN talks put Pasifika lives at risk, with Vanuatu named among the countries pushing back. Energy Transition Pressure: Pacific energy experts urged faster renewable shifts after the fuel crisis, stressing locally led solutions and community-focused planning. Aviation Leadership: Air Vanuatu appointed Philippe “Phil” Busson as CEO, succeeding Joseph Laloyer after a major period of fleet and operational rebuilding. El Niño Prep: SPREP urged Pacific communities to prepare for El Niño now that it has been declared underway. Working With Animals (Science): A new multi-country study suggests human–hunting dog cooperation is ancient and universal, with Vanuatu included in the research.