Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders will take to the global stage at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) this week their priorities for the region including urgent climate action and finance, ocean governance, regional security and people centred development.
This year’s UNGA theme, “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights” affirms the role of multilateralism in continuing to uphold peace and human rights and supports sustainable development.
Led by Forum Chair and Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Jeremiah Manele, and supported by PIF Secretary General, Baron Divavesi Waqa, Forum Leaders will meet with global partners and participate in high-level meetings to elevate and amplify Pacific priorities to shape and influence global decisions. Central to this UNGA80 week is the annual dialogue between the Forum Leaders and the UN Secretary General, His Excellency António Guterres, an opportunity to raise the Forum’s agreed priorities directly to the UNSG.
“UNGA 80 is a pivotal moment for Pacific voices to be heard and heeded,” said PIF SG Waqa.
“It builds on decades of Pacific advocacy on the global stage, positioning the Blue Pacific leadership in driving locally led solutions on climate actions and ambition”
The Forum’s engagement will escalate the outcomes of the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (54PIFLM) held earlier this month in Solomon Islands, reaffirming the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent as the region’s unifying blueprint for a secure, peaceful, resilient, socially inclusive and prosperous future.
Key priorities that Leaders will amplify on climate change priorities include their call for greater global ambition on climate change, urging the international community to use the landmark International Court of Justice advisory opinion to shape international law and policy. Additionally, they will reaffirm the Pacific’s support for Australia’s bid to host 31st Conference of Parties (COP31) as a Pacific COP to bring more visibility to the vulnerabilities of the region.
With the recently signed Agreement to Establish the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), Leaders will have a dialogue with existing and potential partners to present the PRF’s Capitalisation Memorandum and mobilise further commitments to the PRF as a regionally owned solution to climate and disaster finance.
The UNGA 80 theme is fitting and timely. The Pacific’s pursuit of a region that is peaceful, secured and prosperous led to the endorsement of the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration – a testament from the region of its intent to maintain a peaceful Pacific amidst the increasing global geopolitical competition and tension.
In commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the adoption of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, Leaders recommit to working with the global community to realise the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons and the existential threat that nuclear war poses to humanity.
Leaders will take to the global community the importance of delivering tangible results that addresses the structural vulnerabilities that challenge economic resilience and inclusive growth in the Pacific region through cross-sectoral and cross border regional economic integration, guided by the Pacific Roadmap for Economic Development (PRED).
With ocean being a valuable resource for the region. Leaders recognise that the region faces converging ocean and environment challenges. Calling on the international community to address these challenges including climate change, overfishing and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, plastic and pollution will need to be addressed to safeguard the future of the Blue Pacific Continent, including the need for an ambition and binding agreement that addresses the full life cycle of plastics.
As the UN commemorates 30 years of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPA), the Pacific also celebrates its legacy of leadership with the Pacific Platform for Action launched a year before the BPA boldly placing gender equality at the heart of our regional vision. Leaders will continue to reaffirm the role of the revitalised Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration in promoting gender equality and social inclusion across all sectors in the region.
