The Pacific Island way of life is buoyed by the ocean.
This lifeblood that courses through the blue lungs to gift the world oxygen, is also the foundation of Pacific culture and traditions, its food source, as well as the pathway that carried Pacific people throughout history as they journeyed from Pacific island to island.
This very ocean is now under threat from climate change as ocean acidification looms impacting coral reefs and species, can wreak higher levels of rage with sea level rise and extreme weather events and change the course of migratory tuna stocks impacting the economic income of some.
Elevating the ocean climate nexus is just one of the four pillars that are the focus of the COP31 Pacific partnership, that also underscores the discussions at the pre-COP31.
There is also keeping 1.5 within reach, enhancing access to climate finance, and amplifying Pacific voices and leadership.
As emphasised by the Pacific Ocean Commissioner Dr Filimon Manoni – “leadership is about stewardship and a collective approach.”
It was this unified approach that Hon. Inia Seruirati, Pacific Envoy of the Ocean-Climate Nexus further elaborated on.
“We need our partners who are here at the pre-COP this week to know that we need them to be part of the solution,” he said.
“The science is clear as to what needs to be done to address climate change and save our ocean, so this is a strategic opportunity to bring our friends and family in with us, so they are part of the solution too.”
The Pacific Envoy was one of four panellists during a special event Pacific Ocean Leadership: Science, Innovation and Investment organised by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water – Australia (DCCEEW) and moderated by Ms Tagaloa Cooper, the Director of Climate Change Resilience of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
It’s focus was to explore solutions and actions to protect our ocean and how these can be scaled up, or applied, across the region yet it also highlighted a personal connection between Pacific islands people and our ocean.
Reverend James Bhagwan underscored the cultural and spiritual impacts of climate change on our ocean, highlighting the experience of Togoru a low-lying coastal village and settlement situated within the floodplain of the Navua River on Viti Levu. Due to rapid coastal erosion, the ocean has significantly moved inland, washing over a community graveyard.
“We see that the impact of climate change brings the five stages of grief, the denial, anger, bargaining, accepting and resilience,” said Reverend Bhagwan.
“Our communities have to process this very quickly and this is the trauma they experience. Listening to their stories on climate change and our ocean is more than that, its helping them process the healing that is needed from the impacts of climate change. It’s like losing a loved one, but multiplied.”
It’s also the resilience of Pacific islands people that have brought about milestone initiatives to protect and sustain our ocean such as the Niue Ocean Wide Trust. Niue is one of the first countries to commit to sustainably manage 100 percent of waters in its EEZ.
Through the NOW Trust direct donations, and the Ocean Conservation Commitment sponsorships has seen Niue drive sustainable sponsorship for building a climate resilient, sustainable blue economy that reinforces long term ocean conservation.
The NOW is a Earthshot Prize 2026 Finalist, the first Pacific initiative to achieve this global recognition.
“We need to trust our people, this idea represents 1700 people on island,” said Mona Ainuu of Niue.
“It’s our people that came up with this opportunity to create an ocean conservation commitment and now look where we are. We have committed 40 percent of our ocean as a no-take zone and we are protecting the remaining 60 percent applying our licensing opportunities and development partner agreements.”
The special event was closed by. Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy of Australia, also to be the President of negotiations of COP31 in Antalya, Turkiye from 09 – 20 November 2026.
Minister Bowen highlighted the important work undertaken thus far to protect our ocean from the impacts of climate change stressing this was just the start encouraging more support for this from all.
“This underlines the importance of COP31 as a turning point, not only in how the world talks about oceans, but how it invests in oceans, protects and harnesses the oceans full potential as a climate solution,” said Minister Bowen.
“If we do that, we’re making very good progress indeed. This pre-COP has been an important launching pad for this.”
The Pacific Ocean Leadership: Science, Innovation and Investment Event was was held on 5 October 2026, during the pre-COP31 hosted in Fiji and Tuvalu. Moderated by Tagaloa Cooper of SPREP it featured Chris Bowen Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy and the President of the COP31 Negotiations, Inia Seruiratu the COP31 Ocean Envoy, Mona Ainu’u Pacific Special Climate Champion, Dr Filimon Manoni the Pacific Ocean Commissioner, and Reverend James Bhagwan.
