Canberra is trying to position Pacific island nations at the center of global climate diplomacy, but the upcoming pre-COP gathering in Tuvalu and Fiji is shaping up to be far smaller than officials hoped. Diplomats say few leaders from outside the region plan to attend the meeting, which serves as a forerunner to the UN’s flagship COP31 event.
A thin guest list raises concerns
The event was intended to be a headline-grabbing moment where world leaders would visit a tiny atoll threatened by rising seas and extreme weather. Organizers had hoped the presence of recognizable leaders would help Australia win favor with island nations and counter Chinese influence in the strategic region.
Only leaders from Antigua and Barbuda, Cabo Verde, Thailand, the Maldives, and East Timor have confirmed their attendance. That list falls short of the high expectations set when Australia and its partners first proposed the gathering.
Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s climate minister, said he was disappointed by the turnout. “It just reflects the lack of attention and priority given to what Pacific nations consider the greatest threat to their future,” he told Reuters.
Read Also: Israel Probes Co-Pilot’s Attempt to Crash Flight
The Fiji government confirmed that around 30 representatives from countries and institutions will attend the leaders’ segment. This makes the meeting the first pre-COP to be attended by presidents or prime ministers.
Surangel Whipps Jr., president of Palau, acknowledged the significance of having any leaders present, but he criticized those who chose not to come. “If you’re a true partner, then deliver,” he said.
Domestic politics in Australia are also complicating the situation. Opposition parties that reject climate action have criticized the meeting and branded the low turnout a “diplomatic disaster.”
Pacific nations are pushing for the world to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels to avoid the worst effects of climate change. They are also focused on protecting oceans and securing greater access to funds to make their land and economies more resilient.
Read Also: Trump Denies Easing Iran Sanctions, Oil Prices Climb
Island governments are seeking donations for a Pacific Resilience Facility that will finance climate projects across the region. The UN’s environment body recently warned that the world is set to exceed that 1.5-degree target in the coming years, which will fuel more extreme weather and intensify pressure on low-lying communities.
Leaders at the pre-COP, which runs from October 5 to 8, will spend about a day in Tuvalu, a group of atolls home to around 10,000 people. They will then travel by canoe to see reclaimed land designed to withstand sea-level rise and solar projects intended to reduce dependence on diesel.
Maina Talia, Tuvalu’s climate minister, said leaders will be shown solutions meant to keep the nation afloat. “Our fate will be defined by the major polluters,” Talia said. “We are hoping the leaders will see our vulnerabilities.” Leaders will sign a declaration in Fiji, where around 4,000 delegates are expected to discuss agreements for COP31 in Turkey.
Australia remains the largest provider of aid in the Pacific, yet it is also one of the world’s largest exporters of fossil fuels, shipping coal and liquefied natural gas worth about $100 billion a year. The nation continues to approve gas and coal projects despite protests from many Pacific partners.
