State of the Environment

Every year since 2014, we have released a Caritas State of the Environment for Oceania Report to share stories from our partners around Oceania. We are committed to amplifying the voice of the region and shining a light on the environmental issues that impact peoples' lives every day in the Pacific.

Oceania Voices - World Environment Day 2019

For World Environment Day and World Oceans Day 2019, Caritas has released three videos of "Oceania Voices" on environmental impacts: voices from Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga on how extreme weather, sea level rise and extractive industries are impacting people's food, livelihoods - and even survival.

Caritas has also provided the State of the Environment Monitor, an interactive online map showing stories of environmental impact and response in the region. Short stories and photos from our networks throughout Oceania will be added as we go through the year.

The Caritas State of the Environment for Oceania 2019 report will be published on 4 October 2019, the feast day of St Francis. Earlier editions of the report are available to read from the links below.

Check out our Facebook community The Oceanian to discuss the issues around environmental changes in Oceania.

State of the Environment for Oceania 2018 report

The Caritas State of the Environment for Oceania Report: Waters of Life, Oceans of Mercy was launched on St Francis Day, 4 October 2018, during the week-long Caritas Oceania Forum held at the Home of Compassion, Island Bay.

State of the Environment for Oceania 2017 report

Caritas’ fourth State of the Environment for Oceania report, Turning the Tide, was released on St Francis Day, at Te Ngākau Tapu Parish in Porirua, Aotearoa New Zealand.

State of the Environment for Oceania 2016 report

“People have died and have been sick because they have no food to eat and no safe, clean water to drink.”
Tony Inikre (Caritas Coordinator for Vanimo Diocese in northwest Papua New Guinea), in February, during the peak of the El Niño drought in Papua New Guinea.

State of the Environment for Oceania 2015 report

“For us Oceania peoples, ... climate change is a daily struggle. For many of our Oceania countries it is a question of whether we remain on or leave our sinking homes. Our livelihoods are linked to the Pacific Ocean. Sea level rise and ocean acidification and other effects of global warming threaten our way of life – and even our national identities. For us it is a matter of life and death.”
- Caritas Oceania leaders

Foundational State of the Environment for Oceania 2014 report

In 2014 we produced our foundational report on the environment in Oceania based on interviews with our partners in the region. We took the title, Small yet strong: Voices from Oceania on the environment, from the Pope Francis quote below.