The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is conducting a first media training on Loss and Damage this week in Samoa , with Media journalists from across the Pacific
The three-day training aims to equip journalists with a deeper understanding of Loss and Damage—an urgent climate issue referring to the devastating impacts of climate change that communities can no longer adapt to or recover from. This includes both sudden events like cyclones and long-term changes such as rising sea levels.
Participating journalists have come from countries across the region, including the Federated States of Micronesia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Niue, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Samoa.
The workshop connects journalists with SPREP’s climate and environmental experts to strengthen their capacity in climate change reporting, both for their own countries and on the international stage.
SPREP Director General, Mr. Sefanaia Nawadra, highlighted the critical role media plays in bridging the gap between climate negotiations and public understanding.
“Here at SPREP we really try to connect media with environmental issues, because we recognize the key role that you play in keeping our people informed,” Nawadra said.
“Especially our politicians and leaders—when they go to these important global meetings, we understand why they are there. But for the public back home, it’s not always clear, and leaders often face criticism. People need to know that important work happens outside the region too, and there’s no one better to tell them than our own media professionals.”
He added that SPREP remains committed to supporting the media’s role in climate communication.
Director of SPREP’s Climate Change Resilience Unit, Tagaloa Cooper, also addressed the group, emphasizing the weight of responsibility journalists carry in reporting accurately on such a complex and emotional issue.
“You have the role to tell our stories—but also the responsibility to tell them accurately,” she said.
“A lot of people don’t know how to talk about Loss and Damage. What we’re looking for this week is to develop a network of Pacific media who can report on these issues, tell the stories to the world, and most importantly, to our own people.”
The training is funded by the New Zealand Government, through its Loss and Damage Capability and Capacity Project .
Jonathan Lee, Second Secretary to the New Zealand High Commission in Samoa, reaffirmed his country’s support.
“New Zealand is committed to supporting Pacific nations in addressing Loss and Damage through this program,” Lee said.
By the end of the first day, participating journalists had already formed a collaborative Pacific news team, working together to produce authentic stories from their communities—ensuring that Pacific voices remain central in global climate discussions.
Loss and Damage continues to be a key issue under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), gaining prominence in negotiations since the 1990s.
