Of the 26 sq km of landmass that make up Tuvalu, 11 acres are taken up by its dumpsite, containing piles of plastic. Photo credit: SPREP.
Plastic pollution is a global problem.
Every year, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste leaks into aquatic ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers and oceans.
With the next session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) striving 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 percent to global plastic pollution, Pacific populations are disproportionately affected by the plastic pollution crisis threatening community livelihoods.
Pollution is one of the triple planetary crises threatening the planet, alongside climate change and biodiversity loss.
Launched by the Niuean Prime Minister, Hon Dalton Tagelagi during the 7th Pacific Media Summit in Niue last year, entries for the 2024 Vision Pasifika Media Award – Cleaner Pacific are now being accepted, until April 30, 2025.
The Award is a partnership facilitated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) with the Australian Government 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).
Director of Waste Management and Pollution Control (WMPC) at SPREP Anthony Talouli encourages members of the Pacific media to enter the competition.
“In the Pacific, we all are aware of the impact of plastic pollution on us, not only on our livelihood but our everyday lives,” Anthony says.
“It also touches on other areas of importance to us like health, ecosystem and our planet.
“Pacific media is an integral part of global efforts to manage all wastes and understand the challenges of pollution control.
“Its role in telling our stories and amplifying resilient Pacific voices on the frontline of the impact 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 Pacific media to submit published, or broadcast, media stories which have highlighted Pacific challenges and, or the ways Pacific people have addressed these, for their survival.
Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner Senior Adviser Peni Suveinakama says nowhere on earth is untouched by plastic.
“Not even a mother’s womb. Plastic pollution is everywhere,” he says.
“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.”
This award celebrates the role of the Pacific media in amplifying Pacific voices locally, regionally and globally to manage all waste and understand the challenges of pollution control.
Manager and editor for PINA Makereta Komai is excited about the opportunity to recognise and celebrate Pacific media’s contribution to the collective work to tackle plastic pollution.
“The power of storytelling can turn the tide on plastic pollution,” she says.
“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.”
This award 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.
The 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.
While speaking at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland, Executive Director of UNEP Inger Andersen says after two years of talks, the world is closer to securing a treaty for the ages.
“There is a strong determination across Member States, across communities, across science, across civil society and across industry to get the treaty done,” Inger says.
“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.”
The five categories of the 2024 Vision Pasifika Media Awards – Cleaner Pacific are:
- Television news (3 minutes long min).
- Radio production (radio documentaries).
- Online content (podcast, news only for websites).
- Print media (1,000 words minimum).
- Tertiary Journalism Students (Pacific tertiary news media).
Visit the SPREP website for more information on how to enter.
