Prime Minister Matthew Wale has called for greater investment in reefs, mangroves and coastal ecosystems as Pacific island states face growing climate risks.
Speaking at a high-level political session of the Pacific Action for Climate Transitions (PACT) Pre-COP31 event in Nadi, Fiji, Wale said natural ecosystems provide critical protection against climate impacts.
He said reefs, mangroves and other coastal ecosystems should be recognised alongside conventional infrastructure for their economic and protective value.
“In the Pacific, coral reefs protect 41 per cent of hazard-exposed coastal people, the highest share of any region,” Wale said.
He said engineered seawalls can cost between US15 million and US20 million per kilometre.
This highlights the potential value of investing in reefs, mangroves and other natural coastal protection, the prime minister said.
“Investing in reefs, coastal protection and mangroves is cost-effective adaptation, disaster-risk reduction and food security in one,” Wale said.
He said global investment remains heavily weighted against nature.
Wale cited the 2026 State of Finance for Nature report, which estimates about US$220 billion is invested annually in nature-based solutions.
This compares with about US$7.3 trillion flowing into activities that harm nature, he said.
“This imbalance demonstrates the need to redirect investment towards solutions that strengthen both environmental and economic resilience.”.
For Pacific countries, Prime Minister Wale said investment must include locally-led and Pacific-designed mechanisms.
He said small administrations often struggle to access complex international financing systems.
Wale also highlighted opportunities for Solomon Islands in marine planning, blue-carbon initiatives, community-based marine management, forest restoration and conservation.
He said the Pacific’s natural capital already provides essential services and should be treated as a long-term asset.
“We do not ask the world to save our Blue Pacific Continent. This ocean already works for us: it feeds us, shelters us, and holds our culture and history,” he said.
The prime minister called for partnerships that allow Pacific countries to sustainably manage and invest in their natural capital on terms that reflect their circumstances and priorities.
Wale will join Pacific and international leaders on a day-long visit to Tuvalu, one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, tomorrow.
