Pacific warns of unstoppable climate impacts

The Pacific cannot afford further delays in climate commitments as communities confront escalating impacts, according to Sivendra Michael, Permanent Secretary of Fiji's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. He highlighted the region's experience with more powerful cyclones, saltwater intrusion affecting food production, and sea-level rise exceeding global averages.

Michael emphasized that the Pacific, despite contributing minimally to the climate crisis, is disproportionately affected. He warned that failing to accelerate decarbonization risks pushing the world beyond the critical 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold, endangering vulnerable communities. As Fiji prepares to host the pre-COP31 meeting, Michael stated it must serve as a bridge, bringing the voices of the most vulnerable directly into the negotiating rooms and forging the political will necessary for a truly transformative outcome at COP31 in Antalya, Turkey.

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We will walk hand in hand with Turkey and Australia to ensure that the pre-COP in Fiji is not merely a Pacific gathering, but a bridge bringing the voices of the most vulnerable directly into the negotiating rooms and forging a political will needed for a truly transformative outcome in Antalya, Turkey. Together, we see three key opportunities that COP 31 must seize.

Fiji aims for the pre-COP31 meeting to strengthen political commitment and drive action before the global summit. Michael urged nations to move beyond pledges and scale up their Nationally Determined Contributions to protect the 1.5 degrees goal. He identified climate finance as a major challenge for vulnerable countries needing resources to address growing threats. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of placing ocean protection at the center of climate action, integrating marine conservation and sustainable ocean economies into global strategies.

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We are already experiencing stronger cyclones, saltwater intrusion affecting food production and rising seas at rates higher than the global average.