As momentum gathers toward Pre-COP 31 and COP31, the Pacific stands united and resolute in its call for urgent, ambitious, and just climate action.
The Climate Change Ministers Talanoa convened Thursday in Brisbane for its third meeting, co-chaired by Palau’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment, representing the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Troika as incoming Chair, Steven Victor, and Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen.
The Talanoa was also attended by the President of Kiribati, Taneti Maamau, and the Prime Minister of Niue, Dalton Tagelagi.
The Talanoa opened with a traditional smoking ceremony, offering a warm welcome to Leaders and Ministers and grounding the Talanoa in a spirit of respect, connection, and shared commitment as they gathered to advance the region’s climate priorities.
Fiji is set to host the COP31 Pre-COP from 05 to 08 October this year, signalling a pivotal milestone in the lead-up to next year’s negotiations
Minister for Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya, on behalf of Fiji, in close consultation with Tuvalu, announced the proposed dates for the COP31 Pre-COP at the third Pacific Climate Change Ministers Meeting in Brisbane, Australia.
The Pre-Cop dates have been strategically sequenced following the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly and ahead of the World Bank Annual Meetings. This positioning is intended to maximise ministerial participation, strengthen political momentum, and align with the broader multilateral calendar.
In a deliberate move away from the traditional format, Fiji has proposed an extended three-and-a-half-day programme to the Ministerial Talanoa, reflecting both the urgency of the climate crisis and the Pacific’s commitment to delivering substantive, solutions-oriented outcomes.
At the heart of this design is a dedicated Leaders’ component spanning one and a half days, including a segment to be hosted in Tuvalu.
This approach highlights the region’s strategic intent to elevate political leadership and provide clear guidance at a critical juncture in the COP31 cycle.
Complementing this high-level engagement, the programme will incorporate structured technical discussions to enable deeper engagement on priority thematic areas requiring sustained attention and consensus-building. This integrated approach reflects the Pacific’s emphasis on aligning political ambition with technical rigor.
“We have also received strong interest from Indigenous Peoples, civil society organisations, and the private sector to engage meaningfully in this process. The proposed structure will therefore create space for inclusive participation, consistent with UNFCCC practice, while maintaining the integrity of Party-led discussions,” Tabuya stated.
Fiji looks forward to working in close partnership with all Parties and stakeholders to further refine the programme and ensure that Pre-COP 31 delivers concrete, forward-looking outcomes—commensurate with the urgency of the climate crisis and the shared global responsibility to act.
