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New Zealand launches $17.9 million climate mobility program for Pacific Islands

From RNZ Pacific · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • A New Zealand government-backed program has launched to support Pacific Islands in addressing climate mobility challenges.
  • The NZ$17.9 million initiative will help Pacific people lead decisions on migration and relocation due to climate change impacts.
  • The program involves multiple international organizations and aims to strengthen regional cooperation for people-centered climate responses.

A new regional climate mobility program, backed by the New Zealand government, has launched to empower Pacific Islanders to lead decisions regarding their futures amidst intensifying climate change impacts. The NZ$17.9 million Pacific Climate Mobility Partnerships Programme (PCMP) aims to bolster regional cooperation and implement practical, people-centered solutions for climate mobility challenges.

Climate mobility encompasses the movement of people, including migration and planned relocation, driven by the effects of climate change. Fiji's permanent secretary for environment and climate change, Dr. Sivendra Michael, highlighted the initiative's importance, noting that Pacific nations are on the frontlines of climate-related hazards, sea-level rise, and displacement, which increasingly pressure livelihoods and human security.

The program's launch in Suva convened key stakeholders, including the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), and the UN Human Rights Office. IOM chief of mission Solomon Kantha emphasized the necessity of collective action, stating, "Our strength lies in the breadth of this partnership and in our shared commitment to Pacific-led, rights-based and people-centred action." The PCMP is designed to advance culturally appropriate, gender-responsive, and disability-inclusive solutions, ensuring those most affected by climate change guide decision-making.

This initiative marks the third phase of regional climate mobility support in the Pacific, building on previous programs. It will directly assist Fiji, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, aligning with the broader Pacific Regional Framework on Climate Mobility (PRFCM) for 2025-2030. The PRFCM, endorsed in 2023, guides governments and communities to ensure climate-related movement respects leadership, human rights, cultural identity, and continued statehood.

Our strength lies in the breadth of this partnership and in our shared commitment to Pacific-led, rights-based and people-centred action.

— Solomon KanthaIOM chief of mission and sub-regional coordinator Solomon Kantha stressed the importance of collaboration in addressing climate mobility.
About this summary

Originally published by RNZ Pacific in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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