BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Three leaders in the Pacific Islands have welcomed Australia’s bid to host the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP31) in 2026.

The leaders who reaffirmed their support when they spoke during a side event during this year’s 54th PIF in Honiara are; HE Taneti Maamau, President of Kiribati, HE Surangel Whipps Jr, President of Palau and Vanuatu Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Energy, Environment, Meteorology, Geo-hazard and Disaster Management, Ralph Regenvanu.

President of Kiribati, Maamau, said that it will give a sense of motivation for the Australian government and the Pacific people to continue to host global climate change conferences in the Pacific.

“It will also demonstrate that small island countries can have a definite and important say and voice in the global platform, especially when it comes to climate change. And we thank Australia for taking the lead on this,” he said.

Whipps Jr, President of Palau, said that Australia is willing to host the COP31 and make it a Pacific COP.

“The biggest impact we can have on the Pacific is to bring the focus to the Pacific. And when you bring it to the Pacific, the people in the Pacific raise their ambition. The people in Australia raise their ambition, and the politicians raise their ambition even more. That’s the opportunity we have with hosting the COP, and that’s why it’s so important that we bring it to the Pacific and bring it to Australia,” Surangel said.

Minister Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Energy, Environment, Meteorology, Geo-hazard and Disaster Management, said leaders want COP 31 to come up with a financing strategy to transition the whole Pacific region to become the first fossil fuel-free region in the world.

“We also want Australia to seriously take the fossil fuel phase-out. And this is something we’ve been very public about,” Minister Regenvanu said.

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