At regional summit, Pacific islands ask for COP31 support for clean energy and finance

Share: X (Twitter) Facebook LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Print At a key leaders' summit in Palau, Pacific island nations burdened 's COP31 climate summit to deliver finance to help the region transition to renewable energy and build more resilient communities. Heads of government from the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) – which includes COP31 co-president Australia – met in Palau's capital Koror for a week-long summit, where they demanded access to climate finance, ocean action and a regional boost for renewables at COP31. Palau's president Surangel Whipps Jr. said during a plenary session that the Pacific must focus on delivering climate and ocean commitments. "It will require greater regional leadership, stronger regional coordination and, above all, unity of purpose," he said. Log in here → Upgrade to keep reading For 15 years we’ve rigorously reported on the decisions shaping our climate. Upgrading to a paid subscription is how readers like you help keep this work going.  £40/quarter → Or £130/year — best value. At a key leaders' summit in Palau, Pacific island nations burdened 's COP31 climate summit to deliver finance to help the region transition to renewable energy and build more resilient communities. Heads of government from the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) – which includes COP31 co-president Australia – met in Palau's capital Koror for a week-long summit, where they demanded access to climate finance, ocean action and a regional boost for renewables at COP31. Palau's president Surangel Whipps Jr. said during a plenary session that the Pacific must focus on delivering climate and ocean commitments. "It will require greater regional leadership, stronger regional coordination and, above all, unity of purpose," he said. The meeting, which ended last Friday, was marked – among them the heads of state of the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji, which will host a preparatory session for COP31 in October (referred to as the pre-COP31). There were also tensions over Taiwan's participation, with China objecting to its presence as an observer. The forum's final declaration, published after it ended and signed , reaffirms that climate change is the "single greatest threat to the security, livelihoods and wellbeing of Pacific peoples", and notes "the importance of a focused, high-level declaration" at the pre-COP31 to build "political momentum towards COP31". Australia and Pacific islands have invited world leaders to attend the pre-COP31 gathering, which will be held in Fiji and Tuvalu from October 5 to 8. While usually a technical meeting for negotiators, the island nations aim to issue a political declaration at the gathering calling for strong outcomes in Türkiye.