Key facts
- A pre-COP conference in Tuvalu and Fiji aims to focus global attention on Pacific island nations' climate crisis.
- Few leaders from outside the Pacific region are confirmed to attend.
- Confirmed international leaders are from Antigua and Barbuda, Cabo Verde, Thailand, the Maldives, and East Timor.
- Around 30 representatives from countries and institutions will attend the leaders' segment.
- Pacific priorities include limiting warming to 1.5° Celsius, protecting oceans, and securing funds for resilience.
- Australia, a major fossil fuel exporter, is leading negotiations and giving Pacific Islands a larger role.
Australia's ambition to place Pacific island nations at the forefront of global climate diplomacy is facing challenges, with a pre-COP conference in Tuvalu and Fiji next week expected to have a limited number of international leaders in attendance. The gathering, intended to be a significant moment ahead of the UN's COP31 event, aims to draw attention to the climate crisis threatening low-lying island nations and bolster Australia's influence in a strategically important region.
Despite efforts by Australia and its Pacific partners, only leaders from Antigua and Barbuda, Cabo Verde, Thailand, the Maldives, and East Timor have been confirmed from outside the Pacific bloc. This low turnout has led to disappointment among some Pacific officials. Ralph Regenvanu, climate minister of Vanuatu, stated that the lack of attendance reflects a low priority given to what Pacific nations consider the greatest threat to their future.
However, Fiji's government confirmed that approximately 30 representatives from various countries and institutions will attend the leaders' segment, marking it as the first pre-COP event with presidents or prime ministers present. Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr. acknowledged the significance of any leader attending but urged countries that position themselves as Pacific partners to demonstrate their commitment through presence.
Australian opposition parties have criticized the low turnout, labeling it a "diplomatic disaster." A spokesperson for Australia's climate ministry, however, asserted that the pre-COP event would enhance Pacific climate leadership and advance the region's climate objectives.
Pacific island nations are prioritizing limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, protecting oceans, and increasing access to funds for climate resilience projects. They are seeking donations for a Pacific Resilience Facility to finance regional climate initiatives. The UN's environment body recently warned that the world is on track to exceed the 1.5-degree target, intensifying the pressure on vulnerable communities.
The pre-COP event, running from October 5-8, will include a visit to Tuvalu, a nation of low-lying atolls, where leaders will observe measures against sea-level rise and reliance on solar power. Tuvalu's Climate Minister Maina Talia emphasized that the fate of island nations depends on major polluters and expressed hope that leaders would witness their vulnerabilities and proposed solutions.
Some Western diplomats indicated that their leaders could not justify the long journey given their expected attendance at COP31 in Turkey shortly after. One European diplomat suggested that Australia's focus might be more on achieving a diplomatic success than on advancing climate negotiations. Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs did not comment on this criticism.
Australia, a significant provider of aid to the Pacific, is also a major exporter of fossil fuels. This dual role has drawn criticism from some Pacific nations. However, Palau's President Whipps suggested that it is preferable for Australia to profit from fossil fuels rather than countries he believes are less committed to a green transition or supporting vulnerable nations.
While Turkey will host COP31, Australia is leading negotiations and has sought to give Pacific Islands a more prominent role. Fiji's climate minister, Lynda Tabuya, stated that the Pacific is making every effort to influence decision-makers, calling the current period "our moment."