Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders have reaffirmed their united support for Australia’s bid to host the 31st UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP31) in 2026, declaring it a historic opportunity to elevate the Pacific voice in global climate negotiations.
In a statement issued in the Communique at the conclusion of the 54th Forum Leaders Meeting in Honiara ont Friday, Leaders recalled their earlier commitments under the Boe Declaration on Regional Security and the Kainaki II Declaration for Urgent Climate Change Action Now, which identified climate change as the greatest existential threat to the region.
“Climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific, and a critical barrier to achieving our Leaders’ Vision in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals globally,” the statement read.
Leaders urged all nations to step up their responses to the climate crisis, while welcoming Australia’s proposal to host COP31 in partnership with Pacific island countries. They said holding the summit in the Pacific would provide an unprecedented platform to accelerate global action and to ensure that the unique vulnerabilities and leadership of small island developing states are front and centre.
“We reaffirm the support of the Pacific Islands Forum for Australia’s bid for COP31 as a Pacific COP and our strong commitment to host this historic international engagement in 2026 to accelerate global action to set us on track to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and its subsequent decisions,” Leaders stated.
The Forum underscored its commitment to championing the needs of all countries affected by climate change, particularly the most vulnerable. Leaders highlighted the urgency of refocusing global attention on practical action, increased support for adaptation and mitigation, and keeping the 1.5°C warming threshold within reach — a central demand of the Pacific in international climate negotiations.
They also pointed to the region’s record of leadership in advancing innovative solutions. A key example is the establishment of the Pacific Resilience Facility, designed to provide accessible financing for resilience and disaster preparedness at the community level. Leaders described the Facility as a “decisive step forward in securing a resilient future for the Blue Pacific Continent.”
By backing COP31 as a Pacific COP, Leaders hope to not only amplify the urgency of the climate crisis but also to ensure that global decision-making reflects the lived realities of frontline communities across the Pacific.
“Pacific leadership has long driven regional solutions to global challenges,” Leaders declared. “Hosting COP31 as a Pacific COP will build on that legacy and help chart a stronger, more ambitious global response to climate change.”
