BY CHRIS ALEX
The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga, Hon Dr Aisake Valu, raised a call for action during the recent signing of the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) Treaty at the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Honiara.
With 15 Forum members signing the treaty and two officially depositing instruments of ratification bringing into force, Prime Minister Valu emerged as a central voice championing the urgency and unity behind the region’s climate resilience efforts.
“We have come in force today. This reflects the strength of our unity and collective action through ‘You, Me, Together, Act Now’ our shared commitment to our people and our future,” said Valu.
It was a call from the heart of the Pacific, rooted in lived realities of climate vulnerability and driven by the vision of regional self-determination in financing resilience.
He emphasized on the innovative nature of the PRF as a Pacific-born solution to one of the region’s most pressing challenges which is climate financing.
“We are manifesting our shared vision to establish the PRF as a new, innovative way of doing business in climate financing. Climate equity and justice are not just ideals they are rights. The time for that narrative is gone. The time for action is now,” he said.
Drawing from the lived experiences of Pacific peoples, Valu reminded leaders of the harsh climate realities the region faces from cyclones and floods to rising seas and disappearing coastlines. His message “time is not on the Pacific’s side” was clear.
“The Pacific does not have the luxury of time. We can’t control the weather but we do know who controls the decisions that shape our future. And that is us,” he stressed.
He calls on international partners to move beyond paper commitments and provide concrete fiscal support to help the PRF reach its initial capitalization goal of US$500 million by the end of 2026, and ultimately US$1.5 billion to meet the ambition of a “1.5-degree world.”
Valu announced that Tonga is ready to present its instrument of ratification, officially joining the core group of countries advancing the PRF toward legal activation.
“I hereby offer assurance of our highest considerations in announcing today that Tonga is ready to present our instrument of ratification to mark our Blue Pacific voyage towards the PRF Treaty ratification,” he said.
This move highlights Tonga’s unwavering commitment to the facility and sets a clear example for others still on the sidelines.
“Only together in unity can this tree flourish. May our PRF grow to be strong and unshakeable in the spirit of our people, like a tree beside the river barefoot all year round and a stream of blessing for generations to come,” Valu said.
As momentum builds toward the 55th Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau in 2026 where pilot project proposals will be launched Prime Minister Valu expressed confidence in the collective will of Pacific leaders to see the PRF realized.
“This is just the beginning. With our Pacific hearts and political will, we can achieve this together for our people, and to ensure no one is left behind,” he said.
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