Pacific leaders and international delegates have been welcomed to Fiji for Pre-COP31, with a call for the week’s discussions to focus on protecting communities, livelihoods and the ocean from the growing impacts of climate change.
Speaking at the Traditional Welcome Ceremony at the Sheraton Hotel on Denarau Island, Prime Minister Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka said the discussions ahead were ultimately about life, the life of communities, reefs and nations increasingly exposed to the impacts of a changing climate.
Delegates will travel to Tuvalu today to witness first-hand the realities facing Pacific communities, including king tides, saltwater intrusion and increasing pressure on communities’ ability to remain on their land.
Prime Minister Rabuka stressed that the Pacific is not seeking sympathy, but asking the world to recognise that rising seas, warming oceans, water insecurity and threats to food security are not only Pacific concerns, but shared global challenges.
Three key priorities were highlighted for the discussions: keeping the 1.5-degree goal within reach, ensuring climate finance reaches communities that need it, and giving the ocean the prominence it deserves in global climate negotiations.
Delegates were encouraged by Prime Minister Rabuka to approach the week in the spirit of talanoa, through open, inclusive and honest dialogue, respectful listening and a shared focus on practical solutions for the common good.
