Pacific Island nations are rallying behind Australia’s bid to host the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), aiming for what they call a “Pacific COP.”
Vanuatu’s Climate Change Minister, Ralph Regenvanu, reaffirmed the region’s support and readiness to assist in the lead-up to the final decision.
“Time is running out… we have made a number of statements over the years saying we support the bid, we want the bid to be given to Australia in the form of a Pacific COP,” Regenvanu said.
“As we’ve conveyed to Australia, we, the Pacific Island States, still stand ready to assist if there’s anything we can do before that critical time of the last week of COP for the decision to be made.”
Speaking at a media briefing ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, from 10 to 21 November 2025, he highlighted recent diplomatic efforts.
“We went to the UN General Assembly in September in New York, where there was a considered effort to try and bring Australia and Turkiye together, and the Pacific Island states were there, ready to come with Australia to push for this,” he said.
“What happened there is that Turkiye didn’t allow us to come into the room; they only allowed Australia to go in and talk. And that opportunity obviously hasn’t produced a compromise.”
Despite the setback, he reaffirmed the Pacific’s collective backing for Australia’s bid and the vision of a Pacific COP.
Meanwhile, ABC Pacific reports that Australia remains in prolonged negotiations with Türkiye as both countries seek a compromise that would allow Australia to host COP31 with Pacific nations in 2026.
