by Georgina Maka’a

Prime Minister Matthew Wale  will travel this weekend to join fellow Pacific leaders in Fiji and Tuvalu for major pre-summit climate meetings ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 31) next month.

Speaking to journalists in Honiara today, Wale confirmed his attendance and highlighted the regional diplomatic efforts anchoring the upcoming discussions.

Under the planned itinerary, Fiji will host the main Pre-COP 31 gathering, followed by a dedicated day trip to Tuvalu to observe firsthand the frontline impacts of sea-level rise on low-lying island communities.

“I’ll travel there this weekend, and then there will be a day trip to Tuvalu. We are hoping many world leaders will come,” the prime minister explained.

“We want to take them to Tuvalu for them to see direct evidence of sea-level rise and its impact on low-lying islands.”

The pre-summit roadmap follows a strategic partnership ensuring Pacific Island Forum (PIF) nations play a central role in shaping early negotiations, climate finance targets, and adaptation frameworks prior to the global conference.

Deliberations throughout the Fiji and Tuvalu meetings will center on three core Pacific objectives:

• Direct Loss and Damage Financing: Securing rapid, accessible funding channels for frontline communities experiencing extreme climate erosion.

• 1.5°C Paris Target Commitments: Urging major industrial nations to honor mitigation targets and curb rapid ocean warming.

• Maritime Boundaries and Sovereignty: Establishing legal protections for low-lying island territories affected by sea-level rise.

Pre-COP provides a critical platform to show that the most vulnerable nations can lead global climate action,  a Pacific Islands Forum representative, highlighting ongoing support from regional partners to deliver the ambitious summit schedule.

Prime Minister Wale, who arrived back Tuesday this week from his United Nations trip to New York, is expected back in the country next week.