AGP Executive Report

El Niño Watch: Guam forecasters warn that typhoon season is not over, with a prolonged dry season expected as a potentially record-strong El Niño peaks. Pacific temperatures could climb far above normal, raising risks for water supplies, food security and marine life. Coastal Risk: The Asian Development Bank warns annual flood damage across Asia and the Pacific could reach $172 billion to $199 billion by 2050. The Federated States of Micronesia faces potential welfare losses of 2.6%—among the region’s highest. Cleaner Fisheries: Conservation advocates are urging the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission to require biodegradable fish-aggregating devices, as most deployed devices are abandoned, stranded or go unaccounted for. Palau Recycling: A proposed bill would extend the deposit-refund scheme to food cans, fuel and oil containers, and cleaning-product packaging, helping keep more waste out of landfills. Community Solutions: Pacific practitioners, including participants from FSM, met in Fiji to share ways to make nature-based approaches part of lasting community-led agriculture, forestry and conservation work.

El Niño Watch: Guam forecasters warn typhoon season is not over and a strong El Niño could bring a longer, drier dry season. Central Pacific temperatures may climb well above normal by year’s end. Rising Seas: An ADB report warns that sea levels are rising about six millimetres a year in parts of the western tropical Pacific, and estimates the Federated States of Micronesia faces welfare losses of 2.6% from coastal flooding. Ocean Protection: Pacific fisheries groups are being urged to require biodegradable fishing devices, since most tuna-attracting devices deployed in the region are not recovered and can damage marine habitats. Waste and Resilience: Palau lawmakers are weighing a deposit-return expansion for more containers, while Pacific practitioners, including from FSM, shared ways to make nature-based farming and conservation projects last beyond outside funding.

El Niño Alert: Guam forecasters warn typhoon season is not over, with a longer, drier season expected as a powerful El Niño strengthens. The event could bring major impacts across the region. Coastal Risk: An Asian Development Bank report warns annual flood damage across Asia and the Pacific could reach $739 billion by 2100. The Federated States of Micronesia faces welfare losses estimated at 2.6%, as sea levels rise in the western tropical Pacific. Island Conservation: Palau lawmakers are weighing a bill to expand its recycling deposit program to food cans, fuel containers and cleaning-product packaging. Tuna and Marine Life: Pacific conservation advocates are urging the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission to require biodegradable fishing devices, which can otherwise be lost or abandoned at sea. Community Solutions: Practitioners from FSM and other Pacific islands met in Fiji to share nature-based approaches for agriculture, forestry and conservation, with an emphasis on lasting community ownership. Ocean Watch: NASA satellites are tracking unusual Pacific warming linked to a potential intense El Niño, including a warm-water wave detected near Micronesia.

El Niño Watch: NASA satellites are tracking a potentially powerful El Niño, with warmer Pacific waters disrupting climate patterns and threatening marine life. A warm-water wave detected near Micronesia has been linked to sea-level changes of up to 40 centimetres in some areas. Coastal Risk: An Asian Development Bank report warns that sea levels are rising about six millimetres a year in parts of the western tropical Pacific. Flood impacts could cost the Federated States of Micronesia welfare losses equal to 2.6% of GDP. Nature-Based Solutions: Practitioners from the FSM and other Pacific nations met in Fiji to share ways to make community-led approaches in farming, forestry and conservation last beyond project funding. Marine Protection: Advocates are urging the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission to require biodegradable fishing devices, which can otherwise be lost or abandoned at sea. Recycling in Palau: A proposed bill would extend the deposit-refund program to more cans and containers, aiming to keep additional waste out of landfills.

Nature-Based Solutions: Practitioners from the Federated States of Micronesia and six other Pacific nations met in Fiji to share ways to make community-led conservation and sustainable agriculture last beyond project funding. Coastal Flood Risk: The Asian Development Bank warns annual flood damage could reach $172 billion to $199 billion across Asia and the Pacific by 2050; the FSM and Tonga face welfare losses of 2.6%. Cleaner Fisheries: Pacific advocates are urging the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission to require a shift to biodegradable fishing devices, as thousands of conventional fish-aggregating devices are lost or abandoned at sea each year. El Niño Watch: NASA satellites are tracking unusually warm Pacific waters and a possible intense El Niño, with a warm-water wave detected near Micronesia and potential impacts on sea levels, rainfall and marine life. Palau Recycling: A proposed bill would extend the deposit-refund program to food, fuel and cleaning-product containers, adding a 10-cent deposit to keep more waste out of landfills. Typhoon Recovery: Guam’s Micronesia Climate Change Alliance and World Central Kitchen distributed about 1,700 meals to families after Super Typhoon Champi, with more distributions planned.

Coastal Flood Risk: The Asian Development Bank warns annual flood damage across Asia and the Pacific could reach $739 billion by 2100. Atoll nations face especially severe impacts: the report estimates welfare losses of 2.6% of GDP for both the Federated States of Micronesia and Tonga. Tuna and Marine Debris: Conservation advocates are urging the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission to require biodegradable fishing devices. Up to 40,000 fish-aggregating devices are deployed or redeployed each year in the region, and just 6% are retrieved. El Niño Watch: NASA satellites have tracked a warm-water pulse near Micronesia and major changes across the equatorial Pacific. Warming can disrupt rainfall and ocean food webs, putting marine life at risk. Palau Recycling: A proposed bill would expand the deposit-refund program to food cans, fuel and oil containers, and cleaning-product packaging, aiming to keep more waste out of landfills.

Coastal Flood Risk: An ADB report warns annual flood losses could reach up to $199 billion across Asia-Pacific by 2050. Atoll nations face severe welfare impacts, with the Federated States of Micronesia among the most exposed. El Niño Watch: NASA satellites track unusually warm Pacific waters and rising sea levels, with a warm-water wave detected near Micronesia. The developing event could disrupt rainfall and marine life. Typhoon Recovery: Micronesian Climate Change Alliance and World Central Kitchen distributed meals to Guam families after Super Typhoon Champi, with more deliveries planned. Palau Recycling: A bill would expand the deposit-refund program to food, fuel and cleaning-product containers to keep more waste out of landfills. Cleaner Shipping: Pacific officials say funding and technical gaps threaten efforts to cut emissions from aging island fleets without making essential transport less affordable.

Coastal Flood Risk: An Asian Development Bank report warns that Asia-Pacific flood damage could reach $172 billion to $199 billion a year by 2050. For atoll nations, losses could exceed half of GDP; the Federated States of Micronesia and Tonga face welfare losses estimated at 2.6%. El Niño Watch: NASA satellites are tracking unusually warm Pacific waters, including a Kelvin wave near Micronesia. Sea levels have risen by as much as 40 centimetres in some areas, while warming waters threaten marine life and disrupt weather patterns. Disaster Response: After Super Typhoon Champi, Micronesian Climate Change Alliance and World Central Kitchen distributed meals to families in Guam’s southern villages, with more aid planned. Waste Reduction: Palau lawmakers are weighing a bill to expand its deposit-refund recycling program to food cans, fuel and oil containers, and cleaning-product packaging. Pacific Resilience: The ADB’s new five-year strategy for 12 island countries, including FSM, prioritizes climate resilience, infrastructure and essential services tailored to island communities.

Pacific Development: The Asian Development Bank’s 2026–2030 strategy puts climate resilience and sustainable infrastructure at the heart of its work in 12 island countries, including the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau. The bank says bigger budgets alone cannot overcome weak institutional capacity and the high cost of serving dispersed communities. Typhoon Recovery: The Micronesia Climate Change Alliance and World Central Kitchen distributed about 1,700 meals to families after Super Typhoon Champi, with more deliveries planned. Palau Recycling: A bill would extend the deposit-refund system to food cans, fuel and oil containers, and cleaning-product packaging to keep more waste out of landfills. Cleaner Shipping: Pacific officials warn that funding, infrastructure and skills gaps are holding back efforts to cut emissions from aging vessels that connect remote islands. Warming Oceans: Satellite observations show unusually warm El Niño conditions disrupting nutrient-rich upwelling in the equatorial Pacific, threatening the plankton that support marine life.

Climate Resilience: ADB’s new five-year Pacific strategy includes the Marshall Islands, FSM and Palau, and prioritizes climate resilience, essential services and infrastructure suited to dispersed islands. Typhoon Response: After Super Typhoon Champi, the Micronesia Climate Change Alliance and World Central Kitchen distributed about 1,700 meals to families on Guam, with more deliveries planned. Waste Reduction: Palau lawmakers are weighing a bill to extend its 10-cent deposit-refund recycling system to food cans, fuel and oil containers, and cleaning-product packaging. Cleaner Shipping: Pacific officials warn that funding, infrastructure and skills gaps are slowing efforts to cut emissions from aging ships that connect remote communities. Ocean Impacts: NASA observations show unusually warm El Niño waters disrupting the flow of nutrients that support Pacific phytoplankton. Climate Finance: SPC reported US$129.9 million in new climate funding approvals in 2025, including support for FSM health resilience and tuna-dependent communities.

Palau Recycling: A proposed bill would add food cans, fuel and oil containers, and cleaning-product packaging to Palau’s 10-cent deposit-refund program, diverting more waste from landfills. Cleaner Shipping: Pacific officials say limited finance, infrastructure and technical skills are slowing efforts to replace aging, diesel-powered vessels without raising costs for remote communities. Ocean Warming: NASA observations show El Niño’s warm waters disrupting the nutrient supply that feeds Pacific plankton, with potential consequences for marine food webs. Cyclone Outlook: A strong El Niño may bring an early start to the 2026–27 season, with seven to 11 named cyclones forecast across the southwestern Pacific and heightened activity east of the International Date Line. Climate Funding: SPC reports US$129.9 million in new climate finance approvals, including US$17.89 million to help the Federated States of Micronesia respond to climate-related health risks. Climate Justice: Palau and the FSM joined Pacific states in backing action on the International Court of Justice’s climate opinion.

Cleaner Shipping: Pacific island nations warn that financing, infrastructure and technical gaps are slowing efforts to replace aging diesel vessels, risking higher costs for communities reliant on ships for food, medicine and travel. Ocean Warming: NASA says a powerful El Niño is disrupting nutrient-rich currents in the equatorial Pacific, turning waters bluer as plankton declines. The warming is also linked to drought and shrinking water supplies across the region. Cyclone Risk: The coming Southwest Pacific season could bring seven to 11 named cyclones, with elevated activity near and east of the International Date Line; forecasters warn it may start early. Climate Funding: The Pacific Community secured US$129.9 million in climate finance approvals, including US$17.89 million to strengthen climate-related health resilience in the Federated States of Micronesia and US$107 million to help tuna-dependent communities adapt. Ocean Protection: Pacific governments, scientists and finance groups are pushing for action on ocean acidification, a less visible threat that compounds ocean warming and affects marine life and communities.

Warming Pacific: NASA satellites show parts of the equatorial Pacific turning bluer as El Niño’s unusually warm waters disrupt the nutrient supply that supports plankton. Across the region, warming is also worsening drought, water shortages and pressure on food supplies. Cyclone Outlook: A strong El Niño could bring seven to 11 named cyclones to the southwestern Pacific in the coming season, with at least four reaching Category 3 or stronger; forecasters warn activity may start early. Ocean Protection: Pacific governments, scientists and finance partners are pushing for action on ocean acidification, a less visible threat to marine ecosystems and island livelihoods. Climate Funding: SPC secured US$17.89 million to strengthen climate-related health resilience in the Federated States of Micronesia, part of US$129.9 million in new climate finance approvals. Guam’s Water: A report describes dieldrin contamination in a Yigo well, raising concerns about residents’ long-term exposure to the banned pesticide.

Climate Law: Pacific advocates’ campaign for an International Court of Justice opinion on climate obligations has moved toward action, with Vanuatu and the Federated States of Micronesia among those backing a UN resolution. Ocean & El Niño: Unusually warm Pacific waters are worsening drought, water shortages and crop losses across the region, while also altering conditions beneath the ocean’s surface. Guam Water Safety: A well in Yigo has shown high levels of banned pesticide dieldrin since at least 2008, raising concerns about long-term exposure for residents. Cyclone Outlook: Forecasters warn the 2026–27 season could bring seven to 11 named storms across the southwest Pacific, with activity elevated near and east of the International Date Line. Climate Finance: The Pacific Community secured US$129.9 million in new climate funding, including US$17.89 million to strengthen climate-related health resilience in the FSM.

Food and Climate: World Vision says climate change is making it harder for some Pacific communities to grow food, while families in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands work more than four days to afford basic staples. Ocean Research: CSIRO’s research vessel, which departed Fiji, is collecting ocean observations on a voyage from the Equator toward Antarctic sea ice. El Niño Watch: NASA tracked a warm-water pulse near Micronesia earlier this year as a possible sign of a historic El Niño. Forecasters warn the pattern could bring an early, more active 2026–27 cyclone season to parts of the Southwest Pacific. Climate Finance: SPC reports US$129.9 million in new climate funding approvals, including US$17.89 million to strengthen climate-related health resilience in the Federated States of Micronesia. Environmental Health: Guam residents face continued concern over dieldrin found in water near an Air Force base, highlighting pollution risks amid military expansion. Ocean Protection: Pacific governments and scientists are advancing action on ocean acidification, a growing threat to reefs, fisheries and coastal communities.

El Niño Watch: NASA is tracking a powerful 2026 El Niño, after a warm-water pulse appeared near Micronesia in January. NOAA puts the chance it will be the strongest since 1950 at 83%, raising concern over shifting Pacific rainfall and sea levels. Guam’s Environment: A report on military expansion highlights a Yigo well contaminated with banned pesticide dieldrin, detected at high levels since at least 2008, and residents’ concerns about exposure. Cyclone Outlook: Forecasters warn the developing El Niño could bring an early start and increased activity in parts of the Southwest Pacific, with seven to 11 named storms expected and at least four potentially reaching Category 3 or higher. Climate Funding: The Pacific Community secured US$129.9 million in new climate finance approvals, including US$17.89 million for climate-related health resilience in the Federated States of Micronesia and US$107 million to help tuna-dependent communities adapt. Ocean Protection: Pacific governments, scientists and finance institutions are pushing for action on ocean acidification, a growing threat to marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.