Cook Islands Deputy High Commissioner to Fiji Antonina Browne and Pacific Regional Foreign Service Officer Charlene Hoff represented the Cook Islands at the Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) meeting in Palau. FIJI GOVT/26090112
The Cook Islands joined fellow Pacific SIDS (Small Island Developing States) in Palau this week to discuss preparations for Pre-COP31 and the Second International Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels, to be co-hosted by Tuvalu and Ireland in 2027.
Cook Islands deputy High Commissioner to Fiji Antonina Browne and Pacific Regional Foreign Service Officer Charlene Hoff represented the Cook Islands at the meeting, convened by the Fiji government alongside the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
According to the Cook Islands High Commission to Fiji, the team confirmed Prime Minister Mark Brown’s participation in the upcoming Leaders Pre-COP Summit in Tuvalu and welcomed the opportunity for Pacific SIDS to begin shaping discussions across the climate work streams, with further consultation with capitals to inform the next round of discussions.
“Climate finance will remain an important area of engagement for the Cook Islands, drawing on our strong technical experience in this space.”
Meanwhile, according to the Fiji Government, for Pacific island countries, the push for a fossil fuel-free future is about protecting the people and communities most vulnerable to climate change.
Fiji’s Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya chaired the PSIDS meeting with climate and environment ministers in Palau.
The gathering brought Pacific ministers together to strengthen their common positions on climate and environmental issues ahead of key international meetings.
“The objective of the meeting was to strengthen alignment among PSIDS Ministers on shared positions and priorities for the Second International Conference on the Just Transition from Fossil Fuels, reaffirming the commitments and direction agreed in Port Vila, including through the Tassiriki Call for a Fossil Fuel-Free Pacific.”
The Fiji Government added that the meeting also focused on international cooperation and governance, as advocated for by PSIDS in Santa Marta, and advancing a shared Pacific declaration or statement on a fossil fuel-free Pacific.
Meanwhile, PM Brown and the Cook Islands delegation have been taking part in discussions and meeting with representatives and participants from across the region in Palau.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that this is an opportunity to raise Cook Islands priorities, exchange views and hear from others on the issues being discussed throughout the week.
