Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reaffirmed his nation’s steadfast commitment to the Pacific Islands, declaring that “the Pacific’s future is our future” as world leaders gathered in the region to confront the escalating climate emergency.
Reflecting on the severe threats facing the region, Albanese said, climate change is a “daily reality” rather than a distant challenge, noting that “here in Tuvalu the stakes are higher than any other part of the world.”
He pledged that Australia will “support our neighbours every step of the way” as the region fights for its survival.
This regional unity laid the foundation for the Pre-COP31 Taku Pakasoa Declaration, released following high-level meetings in Tuvalu and Fiji this week.
Named for a Tuvaluan term meaning strength in unity, the declaration urges the global community to support those on the climate front lines.
Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka backed calls for immediate action, urging leaders to turn promises into reality.
“Our declaration must make our commitment to close the gap between what we know and what we do crystal clear,” Rabuka said. “Closing that gap is what leaders are for. It is what we are here for. And it is what the world expects.”
The declaration warns that global warming is approaching the 1.5°C threshold, amplified by El Niño.
Pacific leaders said, additional warming severely escalates risks, losses, and damages for SIDS and LDCs. Nevertheless, it recognizes the enduring resilience and traditional knowledge of Pacific communities despite rising ocean levels.
A major pillar of the declaration is a renewed push to keep the 1.5°C goal within reach through rapid emissions reductions.
Rabuka said, this urgency, telling delegates, “the science is understood,” and adding, “We can be bold, because science is on our side. Technology is ready, and our people’s future relies on us.”
Pacific leaders are urging nations to immediately submit their 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and reaffirming the COP28 UAE Consensus to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency improvements by 2030 during a just transition from fossil fuels.
To address climate finance, the declaration demands international financial reform, highlighting unequal impacts and urging increased grant-based and concessional funding for the New Collective Quantified Goal.
It also praises the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), calling for more funding to strengthen regional disaster readiness and tackle loss and damage.
On the Ocean-Climate Nexus, the declaration highlights the ocean’s role in climate regulation, carbon absorption, and food security, demanding action against warming, acidification, and sea-level rise.
Meanwhile, Pacific nations reaffirmed their statehood, sovereignty, and maritime boundaries.
Ahead of COP31, the Taku Pakasoa Declaration unites resilient Pacific voices, urging global action to address climate change and safeguard future generations.
