Australia may relax leader-only rule for UN climate pre-COP in Tuvalu
Australia is considering easing its requirement that only heads of state attend a UN climate pre-COP in Tuvalu after officials say few leaders have confirmed participation.
Australia is planning a high-profile UN climate gathering in Tuvalu before the COP in Türkiye, but officials admit few heads of state have pledged to attend. Samuelu Laloniu, Tuvalu’s high commissioner to Australia, confirmed no leader commitments so far, prompting diplomats to warn of a diplomatic embarrassment. The original policy limited attendance to presidents and prime ministers, a condition now being reconsidered to include ministers or senior representatives.
Climate Minister Chris Bowen will lead Australia’s negotiations, while Türkiye holds the COP presidency. The pre-COP is intended to draw attention to the Pacific’s vulnerability and to boost contributions to the Pacific Resilience Facility, which has raised only $172 million of its $500 million target. Scheduling conflicts, uncertainty over pre-COP outcomes, and regional security concerns add to the challenges.
Why it matters
The summit’s success could affect global climate financing and highlight the Pacific’s urgent climate risks.
In this story