Ministers and climate negotiators from more than 50 countries are gathering in Fiji and Tuvalu this week for the final major ministerial meeting before COP31, with Pacific leaders pushing for stronger action on climate finance, renewable energy and ocean protection.
The 2026 Pacific Pre-COP, co-hosted by Fiji and Australia from 05 to 08 October, will focus on keeping the 1.5°C temperature goal within reach, accelerating the clean energy transition, strengthening climate resilience and unlocking finance for vulnerable countries.
A special Leaders’ event is being held in Tuvalu from 05 to 06 October, bringing global decision-makers to one of the countries most exposed to rising seas and climate change.
Fiji Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya said the Pacific’s influence on global climate action extended beyond its size.
“Pre-COP will put Pacific priorities and solutions at the centre of global discussions and help turn commitments into practical action,” Tabuya said.
She said this included greater investment in blue economy solutions to protect the ocean and support Pacific island and coastal communities.
“Renewable energy strengthens resilience, reduces fuel costs and supports sustainable development across our region,” she said.
The meetings come as countries face increasingly severe climate impacts, including heatwaves, tropical storms and glacier loss.
Organisers say global climate action since the 2015 Paris Agreement has helped reduce projected warming from about 4°C to 2.6°C, while renewable energy has grown to more than a third of global electricity generation.
Renewables are also now among the fastest and cheapest forms of new electricity generation, with renewable capacity additions expected to double between 2025 and 2030 compared with the previous five-year period.
The Pre-COP discussions will seek to build on that momentum, with negotiations and bilateral meetings covering clean energy, climate finance, resilience and the economic opportunities associated with the renewable energy transition.
Tuvalu Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Dr Maina Vakafua Talia said hosting the Leaders’ event in Tuvalu would give decision-makers a direct view of the challenges facing vulnerable island states.
“The Leaders’ event will bring global decision-makers to the frontlines of climate change and will show both the impacts we face and the practical work underway to protect our communities,” Talia said.
“Tuvalu is a low-lying atoll nation, just an average of two metres above sea level. The decisions we make at Pre-COP and COP31 will be felt by our communities first.”
He said the outcomes from the Leaders’ event and Pre-COP needed to translate into stronger action.
“The outcomes from the Leaders’ event in Tuvalu and Pre-COP must help drive stronger ambition and action now,” he said.
Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy and COP31 President for negotiations Chris Bowen said the Pacific was at the frontline of the climate crisis.
“Our region is at the frontline of the climate crisis, where the effects of climate change are real and immediate,” Bowen said.
“Hosting Pre-COP in the Pacific is bringing the focus of the world to the impacts, opportunities and priorities in our region.”
Bowen said Australia would work with Türkiye, which will host COP31 in Antalya, to secure practical outcomes on energy security, economic development and climate resilience.
Türkiye’s Minister for Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change and COP31 President Murat Kurum said Pre-COP was the last major opportunity to build momentum before the November summit.
“We want to remind world leaders that promises do not hold back the sea or shield homes from the fire. Only delivery can save us,” Kurum said.
He said the COP31 Presidency’s agenda included electrification, zero waste, resilient cities and oceans, backed by climate finance.
“We will spend this week knocking heads together to get everyone on board so that the world comes to Antalya ready to deliver results,” he said.
Alongside the ministerial discussions, Fiji is hosting the Vale ni Vanua Knowledge Exchange programme, featuring youth climate leadership, climate science and practical responses to climate impacts in areas including maternal health, oceans and agriculture.
The outcomes of the Pacific Pre-COP will feed into negotiations ahead of COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, in November.
