Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will not attend the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau, with Foreign Affairs Minister Sakiasi Ditoka set to represent Fiji.
The Forum Leaders Meeting, which is being held in Palau, is expected to be an important platform for Pacific leaders to strengthen regional cooperation and agree on common priorities ahead of Pre-COP31 and COP31.
Fiji’s delegation will be led by Mr Ditoka, while Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change and PSIDS Chair Lynda Tabuya has highlighted climate change as one of Fiji’s key priorities at the meeting.
Ms Tabuya said Fiji wants Pacific leaders to endorse the region’s key climate priorities through the Belau Declaration ahead of Pre-COP31.
“Palau is where we build the political mandate. Pre-COP is where we take it to the world,” she said.
She said the Pacific’s position was clear — keeping the 1.5°C target alive, securing accessible climate finance, protecting the ocean and recognising the special circumstances of Pacific Small Island Developing States.
Ms Tabuya said the outcomes of climate negotiations directly affect the lives of ordinary Pacific Islanders, including coastal protection, farmers recovering from disasters, access to clean water and the sustainability of fisheries.
The Pacific position will also include the voices of young people through the Regional Council of Youth Declaration.
“Our young people will inherit the consequences of the decisions we make. Their voice belongs in our Pacific position,” Ms Tabuya said.
As PSIDS Chair, she said Pacific unity remained the region’s greatest negotiating strength.
“We contribute the least to this crisis but carry some of its greatest impacts. The Belau Declaration must give us a clear mandate to carry from Palau to Pre-COP31 and on to COP31.”
Fiji will host Pre-COP31 in October, ahead of COP31, giving the Pacific an opportunity to take its priorities directly to the global climate negotiations.
