Forum Foreign ministers have endorsed a stronger regional push for climate action ahead of COP31, calling for greater climate finance, investment in renewable energy and stronger Pacific leadership at upcoming Pre-COP31 meetings.
The 2026 Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting (FFMM), held last Friday at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, recognised the opportunity presented by Tuvalu, Fiji and Australia hosting Pre-COP31 meetings in the Pacific.
The ministers said the meetings would help amplify the Pacific voice, build political momentum from the frontlines of climate change and strengthen the region’s call for ambitious climate action.
The meeting was chaired by Solomon Islands and attended at Ministerial level by Australia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Naoero, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.
French Polynesia attended at Special Envoy level, while the Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, Samoa and Tuvalu attended at Senior officials level.
The ministers recognised and endorsed the continued implementation of the COP31 Pacific Partnership and Pacific COP31 Envoys to advance regional priorities under four strategic pillars: keeping 1.5°C within reach, improving access to climate finance, elevating the ocean-climate nexus, and amplifying Pacific voices and leadership.
They reiterated that the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) remains the region’s pre-eminent climate finance investment priority for Pre-COP31 and COP31 and called on development partners to support its capitalisation.
The ministers also highlighted the need to accelerate the region’s transition to renewable energy, particularly amid global fuel security challenges.
They called for stronger regional coordination and practical investment partnerships, including increased investment in renewable energy projects across the Pacific.
The ministers also backed the development of a focused, high-level declaration from the Pre-COP31 Leaders Meeting to build political momentum towards COP31 and advance Pacific priorities under the four strategic pillars.
They called on the global community to participate in Pre-COP31 events in a spirit of solidarity and to accelerate action and consensus on climate change while upholding the importance of the best available science.
The ministers also committed to high-level advocacy to support successful Pre-COP31 events, including the Leaders Event.
They welcomed progress in implementing the COP31 Pacific Partnership and supported its conveyance to the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting and subsequent regional engagements leading to the Pacific Pre-COP31 and COP31 events.
On renewable energy, the ministers recognised that accelerating implementation remains the principal challenge to achieving regional energy transitions.
Recalling the Leaders’ 2023 decision to establish a Regional Energy Commissioner, they supported placing the Commissioner role within the Pacific Community (SPC), with dual reporting arrangements to SPC and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
The ministers said the arrangement would reflect the dual mandate of the role and agreed to submit Terms of Reference to Forum Leaders for consideration in Palau.
The ministers also welcomed a proposal by Palau and Tuvalu for a Leaders Declaration on Climate Change at the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
The declaration would include a Leaders Climate and Gender Pact.
The ministers further commended Vanuatu for its leadership in securing the adoption of the historic UN General Assembly resolution welcoming and operationalising the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on the obligations of states in respect of climate change.
The outcomes set out a common Pacific position as the region prepares for the Pre-COP31 meetings and COP31, with climate finance, renewable energy, ocean-climate priorities and Pacific leadership remaining central to the regional agenda.
