AGP Executive Report

Emergency Alerts: A US$1.2 million GSMA grant will support mobile-based early warning systems in nine Pacific countries, including Kiribati. Cell-broadcast alerts can reach phones quickly, even when calls and texts are congested. Resilient Networks: Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna says increasingly severe natural disasters are putting telecom infrastructure at risk and require stronger regional preparedness. Satellite Connectivity: Vodafone Kiribati’s Starlink partnership aims to extend high-speed internet across the country’s 33 atolls, especially where traditional networks are difficult to build.

Disaster-Ready Networks: Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna says increasingly frequent and severe disasters are driving a rethink of how to protect the region’s telecom infrastructure. Mobile Alerts: A US$1.2 million GSMA grant will support cell-broadcast emergency alerts in Kiribati and eight other Pacific countries, helping authorities send warnings to phones quickly, even when networks are congested. Island Connectivity: Vodafone Kiribati’s Starlink partnership is set to extend satellite internet to communities and organisations across the country’s widely dispersed atolls, filling gaps in conventional coverage. Biodiversity Planning: At COP17, Kiribati outlined work on national biodiversity targets and policies, while calling for accessible, predictable funding to turn conservation commitments into action. Climate Outlook: Pacific countries at a regional climate forum reported El Niño impacts on water, health, agriculture, tourism and fisheries, with officials urging prompt preparation.

Telecom Resilience: Pacific Islands Forum chief Henry Puna says more frequent and intense disasters are forcing a rethink of how the region protects telecom networks. A US$1.2 million GSMA programme will help Kiribati and eight other Pacific countries roll out mobile emergency alerts that can reach phones quickly, even when networks are busy. Biodiversity Planning: At UN talks, Kiribati said it is updating its biodiversity strategy and environmental policy, but called for predictable, accessible funding to turn commitments into action. Satellite Connectivity: Vodafone Kiribati’s Starlink partnership is set to extend high-speed internet to communities across the country’s 33 atolls, where conventional infrastructure is difficult to deploy. Climate Watch: Pacific countries are reporting El Niño impacts on water, health, agriculture, tourism and fisheries, with officials warning that conditions remain unpredictable.

Emergency Alerts: GSMA has secured US$1.2 million to support mobile-based early-warning systems in nine Pacific countries, including Kiribati. The work includes cell-broadcast alerts that can reach compatible phones quickly, even when networks are congested. Resilient Networks: Pacific leaders say worsening disasters are putting telecom infrastructure at risk, renewing calls for stronger, disaster-ready networks. Vodafone Kiribati’s Starlink partnership is also set to extend satellite connectivity across the country’s widely dispersed atolls. Climate Watch: Pacific countries are reporting El Niño impacts on water, health, agriculture and fisheries. Kiribati is also updating its biodiversity plans, with officials stressing that accessible funding is needed to turn commitments into action.

Emergency Alerts: GSMA has secured US$1.2 million to help introduce mobile cell-broadcast alerts in Kiribati and eight other Pacific countries. The system can send warnings to phones in a targeted area within seconds, even when networks are congested. Telecom Resilience: Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna says increasingly frequent and intense disasters are exposing the vulnerability of regional communications infrastructure and the need to build greater resilience. Climate Watch: Pacific countries are reporting El Niño impacts on water, health, agriculture, tourism and fisheries. Regional climate officials urge governments to prepare for conditions that remain unpredictable. Biodiversity Planning: At COP17, Kiribati said it is updating its biodiversity strategy and environmental policy, but called for predictable, accessible funding to turn conservation commitments into action. Health Funding: OECD estimates point to a 17% drop in health aid to Kiribati between 2024 and 2026, among the steepest projected declines in the Pacific.

Telecom Resilience: Pacific leaders say stronger telecom infrastructure is vital as disasters grow more frequent and severe. A US$1.2 million GSMA grant will support cell-broadcast emergency alerts in Kiribati and eight other Pacific nations, sending warnings to nearby phones even when networks are congested. Clean Water Technology: Solar-powered reverse-osmosis systems are bringing drinking water to 4,585 students in South Tarawa. The 21 school systems will be maintained by trained local representatives, easing pressure from drought and saltwater contamination. Biodiversity Planning: At COP17, Kiribati said it is updating its biodiversity strategy and environmental policy, but needs predictable, accessible grant funding to turn commitments into action.

Telecom Resilience: Pacific leaders are calling for stronger telecommunications infrastructure as disasters grow more frequent and intense. A US$1.2 million GSMA programme will also help Kiribati and eight other Pacific countries prepare mobile emergency alerts using cell broadcast, which can reach phones quickly even when networks are congested. Biodiversity Planning: At the UN biodiversity summit, Kiribati said it is updating its national biodiversity strategy and environment policy, but needs predictable, accessible funding to turn commitments into action. Climate Watch: Pacific countries are reporting impacts from a strong El Niño on water, health, agriculture, tourism and fisheries, with regional officials urging governments to prepare for worsening effects. Clean Water Technology: Solar-powered systems are bringing drinking water to 4,585 students in South Tarawa. The 21 reverse-osmosis systems were installed at schools, with local representatives trained to operate and maintain them.

Biodiversity: At COP17, Kiribati said it is finalising its national biodiversity plan and targets, but warned that accessible, predictable grant funding is key to turning commitments into action. Emergency Alerts: GSMA has secured US$1.2 million to help nine Pacific countries, including Kiribati, roll out mobile cell-broadcast alerts that can reach phones quickly during emergencies. Climate Watch: Pacific countries at a regional climate forum reported El Niño impacts on water, health, agriculture, tourism and fisheries, and were urged to prepare for further disruption. Connectivity: Vodafone Kiribati’s Starlink partnership is set to extend satellite internet access across the country’s 33 atolls, including areas hard to reach with conventional networks. Clean Water: Solar-powered water systems are bringing drinking water to 4,585 South Tarawa students at 21 schools, with local representatives trained to operate and maintain them.

Climate Alerts: GSMA has secured US$1.2 million to help nine Pacific countries, including Kiribati, roll out mobile cell-broadcast warnings. The technology can send emergency alerts to phones in a targeted area within seconds, even when networks are congested. El Niño: Pacific countries are reporting impacts on water, health, agriculture, tourism and fisheries as a powerful El Niño disrupts rainfall. Regional climate officials urge governments to act now. Safe Water: Solar-powered treatment systems are bringing drinking water to 4,585 students in South Tarawa schools. The 21 reverse-osmosis units are locally installed, with school representatives trained to maintain them. Climate-Ready Health: WHO says climate risks are adding pressure to Pacific health services. Fiji and Kiribati are receiving support to strengthen the resilience of their health systems.

Weather Monitoring: Tokelau has installed tide gauges on all three atolls to track sea levels and weather, while training local staff to build its own forecasting capacity. Clean Water: Solar-powered treatment systems are bringing drinking water to 4,585 students at South Tarawa schools. The 21 reverse-osmosis systems also include training for local operators. Kiribati Research: An expedition to Nikumaroro found the suspected Amelia Earhart plane wreck was likely storm-tossed trees coated in coral minerals, not aircraft debris. Climate and Health: WHO says Kiribati and Fiji are receiving support to make health services more resilient to climate risks. An Asian Development Bank report warns that rising seas and coastal floods could bring steep losses across the region without stronger adaptation.

Earhart Search: A new expedition on Nikumaroro in Kiribati found the suspected aircraft debris was likely storm-washed trees coated in coral minerals, not Amelia Earhart’s plane. Water Technology: Solar-powered reverse-osmosis systems are bringing drinking water to 4,585 students at 21 South Tarawa schools. Local representatives are trained to operate and maintain the systems, easing pressure on limited, saltwater-contaminated supplies. Climate-Ready Health: WHO says Fiji and Kiribati are receiving support to strengthen health services against climate risks, as Pacific health systems face growing pressure from climate change, staff shortages and limited funding. Coastal Risk: The Asian Development Bank warns annual coastal flood losses across Asia and the Pacific could reach as much as $739 billion by 2100; rising seas in the western tropical Pacific are increasing risks from flooding and saltwater intrusion.

Meteorology: Tokelau has installed tide gauges on all three atolls to measure sea levels and weather, while training local staff to build its forecasting capacity. Kiribati Water Technology: Twenty-one solar-powered reverse-osmosis systems are bringing drinking water to 4,585 students in South Tarawa, with local representatives trained to maintain them. Kiribati Research: An expedition to Nikumaroro found the suspected Amelia Earhart aircraft debris was most likely storm-tossed trees coated in coral minerals, not wreckage. Climate Resilience: The Asian Development Bank warns coastal flood losses across Asia and the Pacific could reach $739 billion a year by 2100; the WHO says Kiribati is among countries receiving support to strengthen climate resilience in health services.

Weather Monitoring: Tokelau has installed tide gauges on all three atolls to track sea levels and weather, and train local staff to build its own forecasting capacity. Kiribati Research: A new expedition to Nikumaroro found the suspected Amelia Earhart wreckage was washed-up trees, not her plane; the search added information about the remote atoll. Safe Drinking Water: Solar-powered reverse-osmosis systems are bringing drinking water to 4,585 students at South Tarawa schools, with local representatives trained to operate and maintain them. Coastal Risk: The Asian Development Bank warns that annual coastal flood losses across Asia and the Pacific could reach as much as $739 billion by 2100, as rising seas threaten communities and infrastructure.

Clean Water: Solar-powered reverse-osmosis systems are bringing drinking water to 4,585 students at 21 South Tarawa schools. Local representatives have been trained to maintain them, helping schools cope with drought and saltwater-contaminated groundwater. Climate Resilience: WHO says Fiji and Kiribati are receiving support to strengthen health services against climate risks. The Asian Development Bank warns coastal flooding could cost the Asia-Pacific up to $739 billion a year by 2100, with sea levels rising rapidly in parts of the western Pacific. Pacific Research: An expedition to Nikumaroro used sonar and a magnetometer to investigate a suspected aircraft wreck. Researchers found the satellite-image anomaly was likely washed-up trees, not Amelia Earhart’s plane.

Nikumaroro Expedition: A team using satellite imagery, sonar and other survey methods found the suspected Amelia Earhart wreckage was likely washed-up trees coated in coral minerals. The search on Kiribati’s Nikumaroro atoll produced no conclusive evidence of her plane. Solar Water: Twenty-one solar-powered reverse-osmosis systems are bringing drinking water to 4,585 students in South Tarawa. School representatives received training to operate and maintain them, helping address shortages worsened by drought and saltwater contamination. Coastal Risk: The Asian Development Bank warns that rising seas and coastal floods could cause up to $739 billion in annual losses across Asia and the Pacific by 2100. Sea levels in parts of the western tropical Pacific are rising about six millimetres a year, increasing risks from flooding, erosion and saltwater intrusion.

Nikumaroro Search: A scientific expedition in Kiribati found that the suspected Amelia Earhart wreckage was most likely washed-up trees, not aircraft debris. Researchers used sonar and other surveys but found no conclusive evidence of the plane. Clean Water: Twenty-one solar-powered reverse-osmosis systems are bringing drinking water to 4,585 students in South Tarawa schools. Local representatives received training to operate and maintain them, helping schools cope with saltwater contamination and drought. Coastal Risk: The Asian Development Bank warns that coastal flooding losses across Asia and the Pacific could reach as much as US$739 billion a year by 2100. Sea levels in parts of the western tropical Pacific are rising about six millimetres annually.