By Jayvee Vallejera
Climate advocates set strong expectations at the start of the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Nuku’alofa, Tonga this week, with leaders from the Tuvalu government and environmental organizations calling for immediate action and spotlighting Australia’s role in leading the charge for a fossil fuel-free Pacific.
Speaking at a press conference organized by 350.org Pacific on Aug. 26, Maina Talia, Tuvalu minister for Climate Change, Environment & Home Affairs, said the impacts of climate change are causing Pacific states to slowly lose their capability and capacity to bounce back and respond effectively.
“Our resilience is being severely tested. Rising sea levels pose an extreme threat, particularly to low-lying atolls like mine. Our lands are becoming inundated, making it increasingly difficult to sustain life on our islands,” he said.
Talia said the key to his people’s survival and prosperity is mitigation. “The more we mitigate, the less we have to adapt. I urge all of us to take heed of this, as a just transition is vital for Pacific small island developing states,” he said.
Talia recounted that he recently discussed with Chris Bowen, his Australian counterpart, the country’s bid to host the COP31 (Conference of the Parties) in 2026, in collaboration with the Pacific.
“We continue to have that partnership with Australia to ensure the voices of the Pacific Island states are being heard,” he said.
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The COP is a high-level conference that brings together the parties under the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change. Australia has bid to host the COP in 2026. If that happens, Australia will become the COP president for the entire year.
Joseph Sikulu, the 350.org Pacific managing director, said it’s important for him to see the Australian government show true climate leadership, yet its actions run counter to that aspiration.
“While Australia has contributed $100 million to the Pacific Resilience Facility on the one hand, it is important to note that they are still actively approving new fossil fuel projects, exacerbating the climate crisis and increasing the burden of recovery faced by the Pacific," said Sikulu, who is both Tongan and Australian.
"We need to see a transition that is empowered by finance and accelerated by ending the era of fossil fuels,” he said.
This was echoed by Rufino Varea, regional director of the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network.
He said true leadership must not merely be aspirational; it must be actionable.
Varea pointed out that Australia wants to present itself as a climate leader and co-host the COP alongside the Pacific, yet it has expanded gas production instead of aligning its practices with the urgent needs of the Pacific.
“This does not reflect the leadership we need,” he added.
If Australia is to demonstrate genuine commitment as a climate change leader, it must align its climate policies with the Pacific’s goals and advocate for a fossil fuel-free Pacific, Varea said.
At the same time, Varea said, Australia must also commit to ambitious climate actions and provide substantial funding to Pacific island countries that will empower them against climate change.
Unless these steps are taken, he warned, “we risk witnessing a COP that concedes failure—declaring that critical targets were missed and that Pacific communities continue to be exploited as mere labor resources for the enrichment of others.”
Rev. Faaimata Havea Hiliau, Uniting Church NSW and ACT moderator, said the church stands in solidarity with the Pacific and vowed to watch and call on the Australian government to step up and make real changes, to be true allies of the Pacific region.
“We need to make sure that our Pacific neighbors get the support to transition away from fossil fuels, to support them from fossil fuels to clean, affordable renewable energy, and to adapt and recover from climate disasters now and into the future,” she said.
Alisi Rabukawa, Pacific Climate Warriors Council elder, echoed Talia’s call for bold action.
“This moment right here is just reaffirming for me that we're continuing to do what is necessary and that I hope in this meeting. It will really be a transformative meeting and our leaders are bold enough to make the decisions necessary,” she said.
She also called on young leaders to get involved “because we've had the older generation holding the flock for such a long time. We need to help you step up with brand new ideas, to transform the decisions.”
In his call to action, Talia said the Pacific must focus on action-oriented initiatives, fostering collaboration and working together in the spirit of building better.
“It is time to transform our vulnerabilities into resilience. …We will never give up our cultural spirits,” he said.
The PIFLM will continue until Aug 30.
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