Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 10 March 2026 – As climate change increasingly threatens Pacific communities, the Cook Islands is strengthening its role in a regional effort to protect people from being forced to leave their homes — while preserving their culture, land connections, and way of life.
Cook Islands representatives attended the Pacific Climate Mobility Regional Exchange in Nadi, Fiji (3–5 March 2026), where Pacific governments, civil society, regional organisations and development partners agreed on how to put a landmark regional framework into action.
Why this matters for Cook Islanders.
For the Cook Islands, the immediate benefit is better information. Improved regional risk and vulnerability assessments will help the government understand how climate impacts may affect communities over time — supporting decisions around disaster preparedness, climate adaptation, infrastructure planning, and when and where communities can safely remain where they are.
"Many climate mobility challenges go beyond infrastructure and economics and involve protecting culture, traditional knowledge and communities' deep connection to their land." — Antonina Browne, Chargé d'Affaires and Deputy High Commissioner to Fiji.
A framework built around Pacific priorities.
The Pacific Regional Framework on Climate Mobility has now moved from design into implementation. A Technical Working Group on Human Mobility will coordinate the work, which includes establishing a Climate Mobility Action Hub, supporting peer learning on planned relocation, and improving Pacific countries' access to international climate financing — including the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, on whose Board the Cook Islands serves.
"The strength of this framework is that it allows countries to move at their own pace while building the information and systems needed to support sound policy decisions. It also helps position Pacific countries to access emerging international financing mechanisms." — Antonina Browne
Ms Browne served on the Joint Working Group that developed the Implementation Plan, endorsed by Pacific Leaders in Honiara. She was joined at the Exchange by Charlene Hoff, Foreign Service Officer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration.
Pacific leadership on the world stage.
With the Pacific set to host this year's Pre-COP in Fiji, participants at the Exchange called for stronger regional coordination across climate, environment and ocean priorities.
The Cook Islands will continue engaging in this work and identifying opportunities for operational agencies to participate as implementation progresses.
The Cook Islands acknowledges the leadership of Fiji and Tuvalu as Co-Chairs of the Joint Working Group.
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