Pacific leaders secure new climate pledges as major emitters urged to fund resilience

The Pacific Resilience Facility received pledges totaling several million dollars, including $10 million from Fiji and $1.1 million from the Solomon Islands, alongside contributions from Denmark, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and a planned increase from Ireland. Prime Minister Jame Marape urged nations with large carbon footprints to fund the facility, emphasizing it as a Pacific-led effort to protect its own communities.

Australia announced a $3 million Climate Infrastructure for Resilient Coastlines and Riverbanks project aimed at defending island infrastructure, citing the VAKA undersea telecommunications cable in Tuvalu. Minister Chris Bowen highlighted a joint Australia-New Zealand partnership to expand Tuvalu’s land area. Fijian minister Lynda Tabuya stressed the urgency of keeping warming within 1.5 °C and referenced the Taku Pakasoa declaration ahead of COP31. European Commission climate chief Wopke Hoekstra warned that global action has lagged and outlined EU priorities for the upcoming summit.