Pacific leaders open pre-COP31 climate summit in Fiji to demand adaptation funding

Pre-summit opens in Nadi

Ministers, climate negotiators, and government officials gathered in the Fijian city of Nadi on Monday, 5 October 2026, to open preparatory discussions for COP31. Co-hosted by Fiji and Tuvalu, the regional meeting runs through Thursday, 8 October, serving as the primary coordinating forum for Pacific nations ahead of the United Nations climate summit in Antalya, Turkey, in November. Leaders from low-lying island states are using the four-day event to emphasize the environmental disruption experienced by coastal populations. During the opening ceremony, Fijian Climate Minister Lynda Tabuya presented three central demands formulated by the country's prime minister.

Our Prime Minister will convey three clear messages to leaders this week: keep the 1.5°C target within reach, ensure financing reaches the communities that need it, and give the ocean its rightful place in the climate regime.

Financing deficits and rising sea levels

The discussions in Nadi follow an August report from the UN Secretary-General detailing rapid sea-level rise caused by warming oceans and melting ice sheets. Island nations across the Pacific face sea-level increases at double the global average rate, with projections indicating that climate disruptions could displace 1.2 billion people worldwide by 2050. Negotiators pointed to severe imbalances in global climate finance as a central obstacle for developing countries. While vulnerable developing nations require between $310 billion and $365 billion annually for adaptation measures, only $26 billion was allocated for that purpose in 2023.

Regional leadership and frontline health risks

Australian officials joined regional leaders in Nadi to help elevate Pacific climate priorities on the international stage. Australian Minister for Climate Chris Bowen, who serves as president of the COP31 negotiations, stated that the sessions focus on gathering, valuing, and implementing knowledge from communities at the forefront of climate change. Australian Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Pat Conroy noted that the pre-COP summit provides a direct opportunity for global governments to comprehend the existential danger confronting the region. In a Monday address, UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell pointed to extreme heatwaves linked to climate change and their severe health effects on pregnancies.

Tuvaluan displacement and the Falepili Union

For low-lying atoll nations like Tuvalu, rising waters have already prompted permanent relocation. According to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, more than 95% of Tuvaluan infrastructure is situated in low-elevation coastal zones, leaving settlements vulnerable to frequent tidal flooding, cyclone activity, coastal erosion, and soil salinisation. The risks recall the warning delivered by Tuvaluan Minister Simon Kofe during the COP26 summit, when he addressed delegates while standing knee-deep in ocean water.

To address long-term displacement, Australia and Tuvalu signed the Falepili Union treaty in 2023, offering a phased climate mobility pathway for Tuvalu's nearly 11,000 citizens. The agreement permits 280 Tuvaluans each year to live, study, and work in Australia with full access to education and healthcare services. Temetiu Maliga, a former resident of Nanumea atoll who relocated to Perth in 2025, noted that while life in Tuvalu was peaceful, climate hazards made departure necessary to join his children. Delegations in Nadi will conclude their sessions on 8 October before heading to Turkey for final negotiations.