31/05/2026
The COP31 Pacific Senior Taskforce Officials convened on 29 May in a hybrid format to advance regional preparations ahead of the Pacific Climate Ministers Meeting later this year.
Senior officials from Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) member countries participated in strategic discussions focused on strengthening Pacific coordination and priorities in the lead-up to COP31.
The meeting was co - chaired by the Minister Counsellor for the Solomon Islands High Commission to Fiji, Ms Esther O’Brien and Deputy President of Negotiations and Chief Negotiator for COP31(Australia), Dr Sally Box.
Discussions centred on preparations for a series of high-level climate engagements, including the pre-COP31 meetings to be hosted in Fiji and Tuvalu from 5–8 October 2026, ahead of COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye.
COP31 represents a landmark arrangement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change process, bringing together a unique Türkiye–Australia partnership that also places the Pacific at the centre of global climate engagement. Under this arrangement, Türkiye will hold the COP31 Presidency, Australia will serve as President of Negotiations, and the Pacific will host the pre-COP31 convenings.
This unprecedented partnership demonstrates the shared challenges and responsibilities in shaping the global climate agenda, and the increased recognition of the Pacific leadership and voices particularly on issues of climate resilience, adaptation, and climate finance.
The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), together with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Government of Australia, comprise the Secretariat for the COP31 Task Force, supporting Pacific Island countries as regional preparations intensify towards COP31.
