The Pacific’s COP31 process has begun in Fiji, with communities, Indigenous Peoples, youth, farmers, chiefs and climate advocates gathering in Nadi to put Pacific priorities at the centre of global climate discussions.
Siaosi Carter, Director of the ANU Pacific Institute, said the gathering marked an important moment after years of Pacific advocacy for greater regional involvement in the COP process.
“COP31 has arrived into the Pacific.”
“After the many years of advocating, socialising and mobilising for Pacific COP – it has started and finally arrived in the Pacific. BULA,” said Carter.
Carter said the gathering in Nadi is the first of three mandated meetings to be hosted in the Pacific, separate from COP and Pre-COP.
He acknowledged the Government of Fiji, through the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, as well as the UNFCCC Secretariat, for hosting the event.
“We are here in Nadi, Fiji for the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform’s Pacific Gathering.”
Carter said the meeting is different from traditional climate negotiations because it brings together people from communities rather than focusing on government officials.
“This UNFCCC Pacific Gathering is unique it brings together not state officials, but PEOPLE.”
“Our peoples, communities, and advocates from village farmers to youth champions, to chiefs, elders – we have heard powerful stories of resilience and innovation from across Oceania (Polynesia Melanesia Micronesia Australia).”
Carter said the gathering is providing space for communities across Oceania to share their experiences and solutions to climate change.
“Our local experiences that remind us climate change is not abstract, it is lived daily.”
He said while COP negotiations focus on building consensus among States, the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform provides a space for communities to share their experiences and push for their priorities to be reflected in climate action.
“While COP attempts to build state consensus, among communities the Platform allows sharing our experiences and solutions, we ensure that our priorities from cultural identity, food security, agriculture, adaptation, and climate justice are not only heard but acted upon.”
Carter said the gathering provides an opportunity to amplify Pacific voices and ensure the experiences of communities are reflected in the wider COP process.
“Amplifying our Oceania voices in COP,” he said.
