The Commonwealth accounts for one-third of the world’s ocean waters, and almost half of Commonwealth countries are Small Island Developing States that disproportionately suffer from the impacts of plastic pollution. Together, we must take action to prevent plastic from entering our waterways and help fulfil United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14, “Life Below Water.”
In support of this campaign, the Cook Islands National Environment Service (NES) partnered with the Cook Islands Sports National Olympic Committee (CISNOC) on March 6th, 2026, for a coastal cleanup along the Nikao Social Center shoreline. The team collected 28 sacks of plastic waste, aluminium cans, glass bottles, and other debris, weighing approximately 80kg. Every piece removed is one less item reaching the ocean and a step toward the Commonwealth’s goal of removing 1 million pieces of plastic from waterways across member nations.
This initiative was supported by the Pacific Ocean Littering Project (POLP), led by NES, which works to reduce single-use plastics and prevent them from becoming marine litter in Pacific coastal environments.
Caring for our moana is part of who we are. Small actions can create powerful change, and when communities come together, the impact is felt far beyond our shores.
Meitaki ma’ata to CITC and Prime Foods for providing the sacks, Infrastructure Cook Islands Waste Facility for supporting the cleanup, and another meitaki ma’ata to the staff of CISNOC, volunteers, and NES staff who assisted with the event.
For more stories on the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign click here.
