PACIFIC leaders and international delegates were officially welcomed to the pre-COP31 Summit with a traditional welcome ceremony at the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa on Denarau Island.
Speaking at the ceremony on Monday, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka made a call for the discussions to focus on protecting communities, livelihoods and the ocean from the growing impacts of climate change.
Mr Rabuka said the discussions were ultimately about life, the life of communities, reefs and nations exposed to the impacts of a changing climate. He stressed that the Pacific was not seeking sympathy, but asking the world to recognise that rising seas, warming oceans, water insecurity and threats to food security were not only Pacific concerns, but shared global challenges.
Five world leaders and delegates travelled to Tuvalu yesterday to witness first-hand the realities facing Pacific communities, including king tides, saltwater intrusion and increasing pressure on communities’ ability to remain on their land.
During the summit, three key priorities were highlighted for the discussions and these included keeping the 1.5°C goal within reach, ensuring climate finance reaches communities that need it, and giving the ocean the prominence it deserves in global climate negotiations. The summit will end tomorrow.
