Media release

From: Australian Science Media Centre

Hai, Ni sa bula vinaka, Håfa ådai, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Mauri, Halo olketa, Tālofa, Bonjour, Kia orana, Mālō e lelei,
Ia Orana, Mālō nī, Noa’ia, Talofa lava, Tēnā koutou kātoa and warm Pacific greetings.

Governments across the world are coming together from December 7 for the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP
15) which will take place from 7 - 19 December 2022 in Montreal, Canada. In this one-hour news briefing, Pacific
journalists are invited to hear from two experts on the state of biodiversity loss throughout the Pacific region;
what's causing it, why we need to worry about it and how we can fix it.

This news briefing is hosted by the New Zealand and Australian Science Media Centres, who provide resources
to support Pacific journalists reporting on health, environment, social issues, technology and science.
We will share information on how the Science Media Centres and their website Scimex can connect reporters
with knowledgeable experts and story ideas from the latest research findings. If you have any questions, please
contact the SMCs on pacific@sciencemedia.nz

Speakers: 

• Professor Brendan Mackey - Director Griffith Climate Change Response Program
• Dr Peter Davies -  Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Adviser, SPREP

COP15 Delegates:

• Ms River Thomas  - Palau
• Ms Menolen Jacob-Oswalt - Federated States of Micronesia
• Mr Ruel Yamana – Papua New Guinea

Journalist moderator: 

• Iliesa Tora, Chairman, Pacific Environment, Journalists Network