Pic caption: The COP31 Pacific Senior Officials Taskforce gathers in Nadi, Fiji. Photo credit: PIFS/SPREP.
Source: PIFS/SPREP
The COP31 Türkiye – Australia partnership that includes the Pacific is a first in the history of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Türkiye holds the COP31 Presidency, upon which Australia is the President of Negotiations and COP31 pre-COP will be hosted in the Pacific.
Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Esala Nayasi says the COP31 partnership modality is unique and unprecedented in the UNFCCC history, the world is watching closely how the Australia – Pacific partnership, together with Türkiye, reshape collaboration and partnerships going forward including catalysing urgent and ambitious global climate change actions, while addressing the audience at the fourth COP31 Pacific Senior Officials Taskforce (PSOT) meeting.
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), along with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Government of Australia make up the Secretariat for the COP31 Task Force supporting Pacific Islands as it moves towards COP31 under this partnership arrangement.
The Pacific is making the most of this opportunity with the COP31 Pacific Senior Officials Taskforce holding their fourth meeting in Nadi, Fiji.
This gathering is to discuss and strategise ways forward including through hosting of UNFCCC pre-COP in the Pacific and Australia’s role as COP31 President of Negotiations.
Australia in partnership with the Pacific will set the agenda and preside over the pre-COP.
Director of Climate Change Resilience of SPREP Tagaloa Cooper says as we look toward COP31, these discussions remind us of a simple truth, the Pacific must not only be present – we must be heard.
“The Türkiye – Australia Partnership strengthens our visibility, ensures alignment with our priorities, and opens doors for meaningful participation throughout the pre-COP and the COP processes.
“Together, let us step forward with unity and purpose, ensuring COP31 delivers the ambitious, just, and durable outcomes our Blue Pacific Continent deserves.”
The pre-COP will see the world coming to this corner of the globe for the climate change negotiations – a corner that is home to the world’s most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change despite contributing less than 0.03 percent to the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
Building on the efforts of the COP30 Brazilian Presidency, Türkiye and Australia, in consultation with the Pacific will collaborate to strengthen and elevate the action agenda.
Australia and Türkiye will work together to identify additional envoys for the action agenda for thematic priorities, including envoys from Pacific Island countries.
Co-chair of the COP31 PSOT Meeting Esther O’Brien from the Solomon Islands says this is an unchartered pathway that we’re walking – the issue of climate change is a matter of life and death for us all.
“We’re working to come together and collaborate in this spirit of trust and partnership for a successful outcome ahead.
“COP31 is our opportunity for the voices of the unheard to be heard.
“We will work in unity to make sure this happens.”
Also to take place is a session at COP31 focused on climate finance needs of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) which will provide a platform for pledges to the Pacific Resilience Facility.
The next meeting to be held on this journey is the COP31 Climate Ministers Meeting to be held in Brisbane, Australia to finalise the way forward under the Australia-Pacific partnership.
This will cement steps to build momentum for global outcomes on the climate change stage.
Co-chair of the COP31 PSOT Meeting Dr Sally Box of Australia says the innovative COP31 partnership between Türkiye, Australia and the Pacific will bring Pacific perspectives and ideas into the centre of the global climate dialogue this year.
“I’m really excited to be working with colleagues from across the region to make the most of this opportunity.”
Visit the Road to Antalya website for more information on COP31.