Pacific Island leaders wrapped up the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga, reinforcing their commitment to regional cooperation, climate resilience, and sustainable development.
The week-long Forum brought together leaders from 18 member countries and territories, who addressed the region’s most pressing challenges, from climate change and healthcare vulnerabilities to education and regional security.
Recognising the existential threat posed by climate change, Forum leaders reaffirmed the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific (FRDP) as their blueprint for strengthening regional resilience.
Leaders welcomed the recent adoption of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) at the UN General Assembly, urging development institutions to integrate vulnerability factors into their policies and decision-making processes. The MVI provides a more comprehensive assessment of the challenges faced by Pacific nations, taking into account the unique environmental, economic, and social vulnerabilities of small island states.
Leaders emphasised the urgent need for inclusive and innovative solutions to address climate impacts, endorsing continued efforts under the Pacific Resilience Partnership. The Forum highlighted the vulnerability of the region’s health systems to climate change, noting that 62 percent of critical health facilities are located within 500 metres of coastlines, making them highly susceptible to sea-level rise and extreme weather events. In response, leaders prioritised investments in climate-resilient healthcare infrastructure and the development of a comprehensive health workforce strategy to address shortages and the outmigration of skilled professionals.
On education, leaders recognised the necessity of building resilient systems that can withstand environmental shocks. They endorsed investment in digital education infrastructure and called for the development of localised, culturally relevant curricula that include disaster preparedness and environmental education. These measures are aimed at equipping future generations with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a changing climate and to ensure that education systems are robust enough to continue delivering quality education in the face of disasters.
Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which sets out the region’s policy priorities for a resilient future. They endorsed the Executive Summary of the 2050 Baseline Report, which evaluates the state of regionalism and development through seven thematic areas: climate change, ocean governance, economic development, health, education, cultural heritage, and security. Leaders also called for continued integration of Smaller Island States’ priorities into the strategy’s implementation, ensuring that the unique needs of these vulnerable nations are addressed.
The Forum endorsed recommendations from the Review of the Regional Architecture, which emphasised the need for stronger regional cooperation and a more strategic partnership mechanism. Leaders agreed on the importance of aligning regional governance structures with the decisions outlined in the Suva Agreement, ensuring they are practical, fit-for-purpose, and responsive to member needs.
Cook Islands Prime Minister and Troika Member Mark Brown announced that Guam and American Samoa have been elevated to Associate Member status in the Forum, moving up from Observer status. Their engagement in the Forum will be guided by the 2005 Associate Member policy until the current review of the regional architecture is concluded.
Leaders received an update on the situation in New Caledonia from President Louis Mapou and reaffirmed their continued call for order and stability to prevail in the territory. They committed to providing support as necessary and endorsed the Terms of Reference for the high-level Forum Troika Plus Mission to New Caledonia, in line with the request of the Government of New Caledonia.
Leaders also noted updates from Special Envoys on West Papua and recalled their previous decisions on the issue from 2019 and 2023, reiterating their ongoing concern for the human rights situation in the region.
The Forum expressed strong support for the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), a Pacific-led, member-owned climate and disaster resilience financing mechanism. The PRF aims to provide direct funding to communities, cutting through bureaucratic red tape and empowering local initiatives.
Leaders welcomed commitments totaling over $170 million, including AUD$100 million from Australia, US$50 million from Saudi Arabia, and pledges from the United States US$25 million), China, and other partners. They set a target of US$500 million by January 2026, with a longer-term goal of US$1.5 billion.
Forum Chair and Tongan Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni expressed gratitude for Tonga being selected as the host for the PRF, highlighting the Kingdom’s commitment to regional leadership in resilience financing.
“I’m sincerely grateful to Leaders for endorsing Tonga as the country of domicile for our PRF. We also appreciate the pledges towards the setup and capitalisation of PRF,” said Sovaleni, calling on funders to continue their support.
The Forum also addressed the importance of maintaining peace and security across the Pacific. Leaders endorsed the Pacific Policing Initiative, which aims to enhance regional law enforcement cooperation and capacity.
They also backed initiatives for regional fisheries management and security, emphasising the need to protect the Pacific’s rich marine resources from illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities.
Leaders expressed strong support for Australia’s bid to host COP31 in 2026, in partnership with the Pacific, underscoring the region’s active role in global climate negotiations.
Leaders committed to elevating the issue of sea-level rise on the global stage, advocating for its inclusion as a standalone agenda item at the UN General Assembly and other international forums. They emphasised the critical importance of securing international recognition and action on sea-level rise, which poses a direct existential threat to many Pacific Island nations.
Acknowledging the unique challenges faced by Smaller Island States, leaders pledged to strengthen collaboration and support for these vulnerable members of the Forum. They called for heightened visibility of Smaller Island States’ priorities and challenges and urged regional organisations and international partners to provide targeted assistance in areas such as transportation, education, health, and climate finance.
The Forum concluded with several key decisions and endorsements, including support for the Lagatoi Declaration on Pacific ICT and Digital Transformation, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands’ candidature for the Human Rights Council for the term 2025-2027. Leaders also agreed to regularise the Pacific Regional Disaster Managers Meeting on a biennial basis and endorsed the “Bridge to Busan: Declaration on Primer Plastic Polymers” to combat plastic pollution.
Leaders welcomed the historic participation in the ICJ written proceedings, with 91 submissions from States and International Organisations, making this advisory opinion the largest case in the history of the ICJ. Forum members represent over twenty percent of the States participating, reflecting the Pacific’s proactive stance on global climate advocacy.
Leaders strongly encouraged all Forum Members to participate in the ICJ advisory proceedings on climate change, with oral hearings scheduled to begin on 02 December 2024 in The Hague.
Leaders also welcomed the AUD$15 million (US$10.19 million) from the Great Barrier Reef Foundation earmarked for SPREP, adding to the USD$100 million from the Bezos Earth Fund (BEF) and USD$125 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) committed to unlocking Blue Pacific Prosperity (UBPP) goals. These goals include 100 percent sustainable ocean conservation and management, healthy Pacific people supported by robust food systems, and fit-for-purpose financing in support of the 2050 Strategy implementation.
On Correspondent Banking Relationships (CBR), leaders expressed grave concerns about the negative socioeconomic impacts of de-risking and debanking in the region, particularly for members facing the imminent risk of losing access to these essential services. They welcomed ongoing efforts to secure a regional CBR project financed by participating FICs International Development Association (IDA) grants and credits from the World Bank. The project will provide US$77 million in financing over six years, supporting countries including Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
Leaders recognised the importance of connectivity across the Pacific to build stronger people-to-people links and improve mobility opportunities throughout the region.
They confirmed that the 54th Pacific Islands Forum would be held in Solomon Islands in September 2025, with Palau set to host the 55th Forum in 2026.
