The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) continued its engagement in the fourth meeting of the COP31 Pacific Senior Officials Taskforce (PSOT) through joint participation with the Office of the Prime Minister, Climate Change Cook Islands. The meeting was held in Nadi, Fiji from 19–20 February 2026.
The Taskforce, operating under the guidance of Pacific Climate Change Ministers and co-chaired by Ms Esther O’Brien of Solomon Islands and Dr Sally Box of Australia, co-chairs of the COP31 PSOT Meeting, was established to coordinate regional preparations for the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), support Pacific engagement in the negotiations, and ensure Pacific priorities are reflected in both hosting arrangements and substantive outcomes.
Over the two-day meeting, senior officials received updates on the Türkiye–Australia COP31 partnership modalities, preparations for the UNFCCC pre-COP to be hosted in the Pacific, and Australia’s role as COP31 President of Negotiations. Discussions also covered coordination arrangements for Pacific participation in both the negotiation track and the Action Agenda, including thematic priorities, envoy appointments, and engagement pathways for Pacific representatives, including a youth engagement component to reflect the voices of young Pacific Islanders.
The PSOT meeting reaffirmed the strategic importance of early engagement and coordinated Pacific advocacy, ensuring the region’s priorities are visible and effectively represented in COP31 negotiations. Preparations for the upcoming COP31 Climate Ministers Meeting in Brisbane, Australia on 19–20 March 2026 were also considered, with Ministers set to provide strategic guidance on Pacific priorities under the partnership arrangement.
“This pre-COP offers yet another key moment for Pacific Island countries to have our voices heard on the global climate stage. Bringing the world into the Pacific, onto the front line of climate change, is a powerful opportunity to shape discussions from the outset and ensure that our perspectives, priorities, and solutions are central to COP31 outcomes,” said TMOD Foreign Service Officer Peka Fisher.
The Cook Islands will continue to engage through the PSOT mechanism under the guidance of Pacific Climate Change Ministers as regional preparations advance.
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