As the curtains fall on pre-COP31 and Fiji celebrates the successful hosting of more than 3,000 delegates, the attention immediately turns to Türkiye, and the need to defend the integrity of the science from the IPCC on the 1.5⁰C temperature goal.
“We will not take a step backwards because we still believe that a more just world is possible,” promised the President of COP31,Murat Kurum.
“We will see you in Antalya from 9th to 20th of November where we will welcome the whole world. Hopefully, we will succeed together, and the voice of the Pacific will be heard strongly in Antalya.”
From 05-08 October, Fiji, Tuvalu, Australia and the UNFCCC partnered to deliver the official COP31 pre-COP ministerial meeting and Leaders’ event.
Leaders, ministers, senior representatives and officials from all over the world converged in Fiji, with some visiting Tuvalu on Tuesday, where they got to see first-hand the lived reality of climate change impacts.
The Taku Pakasoa Declaration, establishing a firm political mandate to amplify Pacific voices and priorities at COP31 in Antalya, was officially endorsed, and hailed as one of the key accomplishments in Nadi.
“I’m proud of what we have all achieved this week,” said Fiji Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change, Lynda Tabuya.
“First, the endorsement of the Taku Pakasoa Declaration by 30 regions, which will mobilise protection for the 1.5 degrees threshold. Second, integrating the ocean agenda into the United Nations framework, claiming its rightful place in our climate agenda. Third, the commitment of real capital; money to fund the change the Pacific needs.”
The Taku Pakasoa Declaration calls on leaders to mobilise the protection for the 1.5 degrees threshold, secure direct, accessible, and grant-based climate finance, protect island states facing existential threats from rising sea levels and bridge the ongoing discrepancy between international climate pledges and real-world execution.
Minister Tabuya said ensuring the Pacific priorities are taken to Antalya was top of the agenda this week.
“Fiji should be proud as a nation for hosting such a big event. This would not have been possible without the leadership and the partnership of our COP31 President, Honorable Murat and of course Australian leadership as well in partnership, Bowen, to bring pre-COP to the Pacific,” she said.
“But our work is not done. We have set the stage to COP31, and now we look ahead to Turkiye, where we must achieve the following outcomes – keeping 1.5 degrees within reach and get climate finance into the hands of the people who really need it. And of course, putting the ocean in its rightful place in the climate agenda.”
Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, and President of Negotiations for COP31, Hon. Chris Bowen, said when the partnership between Australia and Türkiye to deliver COP31 was established, they agreed immediately that pre-COP was to be used to provide the best possible launching pad for COP31, especially to give a voice to countries on the front line of climate change impacts.
Minister Bowen hailed the endorsement of the Taku Pakasoa Declaration, which he said arose out of the visit to Tuvalu.
“It sees a strength found in collective unity and action,” said Bowen.
“It reaffirms the importance of science, and reaffirms the efforts to triple renewable energy and double energy efficiency and transition away from fossil fuels. All encapsulated in that important document, which gives us a good launching pad.
“Also, access to finance. The countries that need the finance the most get it the least, small island developing states. That has got to change. It’s a key priority of COP31.”
The closing of the pre-COP at the Sheraton Resort in Denarau ended two important weeks for Pacific climate change officials and negotiators, as they prepare for COP3.
The Pacific Small Islands Developing States (PSIDS) COP31 Preparatory Meeting was held from 30 September 02 October in Nadi.
Facilitated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and funded by the Government of Australia, the meeting focussed on the priority thematic areas for negotiations, and allowed for discussion on strategic directions and agreed regional positions ahead of COP31.
