AGP Executive Report
Last update: 7 hours agoEnvironment Act rollout: Cook Islands’ Environment Act 2026 is now set to take effect in January, bringing the biggest environmental law overhaul in more than two decades, with strict operational rules, clearer regulatory roles, and heavy penalties up to $500,000 for pollution and ecosystem harm. Deep-sea mining pressure: As election talk heats up, Te Ipukarea Society warns that deep-sea mining could pose hidden risks to the Cook Islands’ marine life and food supply, pointing to naturally occurring radioactive particles that can be disturbed from polymetallic nodules. Climate ocean baseline voyage: A month-long scientific expedition is building the first baseline of ocean conditions across the Cook Islands EEZ, tracking temperatures, currents, seafloor changes, and microplastics—especially in the Northern Cook Islands where ocean heat content has risen. Youth voices on environment: The CINYC youth forum Kai Vānanga no te Uki o Āpōpō is giving candidates a direct line to young people, with recurring calls to balance tourism-driven development against protecting land, culture, community wellbeing, and the environment. Regional diplomacy: New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni will join Fiji for a Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ retreat, with climate action and regional unity high on the agenda.
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