Pacific Islands Forum Leaders met with the United Nations (UN) Secretary General for their annual dialogue on the margins of the High-level of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80).
UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, reaffirmed the UN’s solidarity with the Pacific, acknowledging the region’s unique vulnerabilities and its leadership in global priorities.
“I want to thank you for your leadership, in these turbulent times, the Pacific is a voice of justice, peace and solidarity. From Pacific Youth launching the effort that led to the International Court of Justice Advisory opinion on climate change, your 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, your regional peacebuilding and reconciliation works, your new Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration…In trouble times, the Pacific is a beacon of hope and United Nations is proud to stand with you … we know when the Pacific wins, we all win and we are in full solidarity with you,” UNSG Guterres said.
Prime Minister of Solomon Islands and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Jeremiah Manele, noted the significance of the dialogue as the Pacific advances the implementation of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent while the UN marks its 80th anniversary with the UN80 reform initiative.
“These are parallel journeys of renewal, and today’s dialogue is an opportunity to ensure that our paths are aligned,” he said.
Forum Leaders spoke on three key regional priorities as endorsed during the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting earlier this month in Solomon Islands; climate change and financing, peace and security and strengthening multilateralism through inclusive and fit for purpose regional architecture and reform.
The interventions highlighting the urgency of the action required and opportunities for deeper collaboration with the UN.
Leaders through their dialogue reaffirmed that climate change is the single greatest threat to Pacific peoples and urgent global action is urgently needed. Leaders called for UN action on the ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate change, support for COP31 as a Pacific COP to be hosted by Australia and stronger backing for the Pacific Resilience Facility.
Leaders reaffirmed the Blue Pacific as an ocean of peace grounded in the Pacific Way and stressed that climate security must be treated as central to global peace and security agenda. Leaders emphasised that UN reforms must be fit-for-purpose, strengthen regional mechanisms and bring about a more accessible and responsive UN system to all Pacific countries.
Leaders called for reforms to ensure Pacific representation across the UN system, including senior posts and decision-making bodies, so that the Pacific is present to shape outcomes on climate, development, peace, and finance.
As the high-level week of the UNGA80 draws to a close, Forum Leaders and the UNSG reaffirmed their commitment to work closely to translate dialogue into decisive action, ensuring that the Blue Pacific Continent remains peaceful, resilient, and sustainable for generations to come.
