Samoa 2019 choose sustainability team for Pacific Games

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Samoan Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) are to work together to help make this year's Pacific Games more sustainable, it has been announced.

According to the Samoa Observer, the director general of the SPREP Leota Kosi Latu and the MNRE will co-direct environment sustainability for the Games, with the aim of reducing the use of single-use plastics as much as possible.

"We are extremely excited to welcome the director general of SPREP Leota Kosi Latu into the Organising Committee for the Pacific Games," chairman Loau Keneti Sio said.

"This is a very important project to the Government of Samoa as it aligns with its environment strategy to go plastic and straw free this year.

"The Games will be an excellent international platform that we can use to continuously address sustainability and waste management issues within the Pacific region and hopefully, outside of our region.

"We are fortunate to have these two agencies partner up to help us continue to bolster the positive progress of the Pacific Games this year."

The agencies have reportedly already identified the "human resources" necessary to carry out their work.

They will share personnel to ensure key outcomes are achieved, including the presence of waste management equipment at every venue, the use of reusable water bottles and cups and the creation of portable water stations.