By Pita Ligaiula in Koror, Palau
Australia, Fiji and Tuvalu have stepped up preparations for the Pacific’s Pre-COP31 meetings, with leaders using a trilateral meeting in Palau to push for Pacific climate priorities to take centre stage in global climate discussions.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo and Fiji Foreign Minister Sakiasi Ditoka met in Koror as Fiji and Tuvalu prepare to host key Pre-COP31 meetings later this year.
The meetings will bring international leaders and climate decision-makers to the Pacific ahead of COP31, giving them a direct view of the region’s exposure to climate change and the measures Pacific Island countries are taking to adapt.
Albanese said the meetings would provide an important opportunity for international leaders to understand the realities facing Pacific countries.
“It is important to bring them to the Pacific so they can see firsthand why climate change and acting on it is both an opportunity but also a challenge,” Albanese said.
He said climate change remained an existential challenge for countries such as Tuvalu and was also increasing the threat of extreme weather across the region.
“It is an existential challenge to nations such as Tuvalu, but also a threat of increased extreme weather events, more frequent and more intense, that can do enormous damage and change the way that the Blue Pacific operates,” Albanese said.
Albanese said the Fiji and Tuvalu meetings would allow Pacific countries to demonstrate why climate action remained their highest priority.
“The visit to Tuvalu will be very significant indeed and an opportunity to showcase why it is that the nations of the Pacific have as their first priority above all action on climate change,” he said.
He thanked Fiji for hosting part of the Pre-COP31 programme and said he looked forward to returning to the country.
Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo said his country was grateful to Pacific leaders for designating Tuvalu to host the leaders’ segment of the Pre-COP meeting.
“There is a lot of excitement on the ground,” Teo said.
He said the meeting would provide an opportunity for international leaders to see the impact of climate change directly rather than relying solely on reports and presentations.
“This is the opportunity for leaders that will make it to Tuvalu to see for themselves the extent of our vulnerability to the impact of climate change and particularly sea level rise,” Teo said.
Teo said Tuvalu also wanted to use the leaders’ visit to demonstrate the adaptation work already underway.
“We have not been sitting idly around.
“We have taken on board the resources that you and other partners have provided us to try and build our own resilience,” he said.
Teo said the leaders’ segment would give Tuvalu the opportunity to demonstrate both the seriousness of its vulnerability and the practical measures it was taking to respond.
“I think the opportunity of the leaders’ segment in Tuvalu will be a fantastic opportunity for us,” he said.
He thanked Australia and Fiji for the trilateral mechanism established to coordinate preparations for the meetings.
Teo also acknowledged Albanese’s efforts to encourage international leaders to attend.
“The whole nation is ready and prepared to host the leaders that will come over,” he said.
Fiji Foreign Minister Sakiasi Ditoka said COP31 would be a critical opportunity to ensure Pacific experiences, leadership and solutions were central to international climate discussions.
“For Fiji, COP31 presents a pivotal moment.
“It will be a critical opportunity to build consensus and ensure Pacific experience, leadership and solutions are placed at the centre of global climate discussions,” Ditoka said.
Ditoka said the Pacific was seeking to move beyond simply being represented at global climate meetings.
“It is about bringing Pacific front-line experience to the centre of global climate deliberations, reinforcing the urgency of global commitments and ensuring Pacific voices, priorities and solutions are placed at the centre of global decision-making,” he said.
Ditoka said a number of Pacific and international leaders had already confirmed their participation in the Pre-COP31 programme.
He acknowledged Pacific leaders who had confirmed attendance, as well as international leaders from countries including Antigua and Barbuda, Cabo Verde, Thailand, Maldives and Timor-Leste.
Ministerial-level representatives from Germany, Mexico and the Republic of Korea were also expected to attend.
“We look forward to more confirmations of attendance in the coming weeks,” Ditoka said.
The trilateral meeting in Palau highlighted the importance Australia, Fiji and Tuvalu are placing on the Pre-COP31 process, with the Pacific seeking to ensure that global climate negotiations are informed by the direct experience of communities already facing sea-level rise, extreme weather and other impacts.
