Pacific Climate Change Roundtable Opens in Apia with Call for Concrete Action on 1.5°C Target
The Pacific Climate Change Roundtable kicked off in Apia, Samoa today, bringing together representatives from across the region to press for urgent, tangible measures aimed at keeping the 1.5°C limit within reach and protecting Pacific communities’ futures. The gathering, under the theme “1.5 to stay alive and thrive,” heard a rallying message from Reverend Siaosi Salesulu that the region’s survival depends on meeting the global temperature goal, and that survival alone is not enough—we must thrive.
Opening remarks from SPREP Director General Sefanaia Nawadra framed the roundtable as a missing link in the region’s climate architecture. Nawadra noted the move last year to make the meeting more open and informal, creating space for genuine dialogue beyond formal intergovernmental processes. He described the roundtable as a crucial forum to share experiences, test ideas, and identify ways to support governments as they represent Pacific peoples. Nawadra outlined three priorities for SPREP: building knowledge and capacity—through initiatives like the Climate Science and Information Program and regional climate science conferences; supporting negotiations; and strengthening national implementation of climate commitments. He emphasized breaking down silos and adopting multisectoral approaches, warning that it is no longer enough to rely on emotion; concrete information is needed to show that climate impacts are real. He also stressed early planning to leverage the Pacific’s potential hosting of COP31.
Samoa’s leadership on environment welcomed delegates, with Lealaisalanoa Frances Brown-Reupena, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, describing the reconvened roundtable as “a new strong branch” that will endure. Brown-Reupena linked the work of the forum to the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and lauded Pacific small island developing states for “punching above our weight” in cutting emissions and transitioning to low-carbon economies. She cautioned, however, that progress by developed countries remains essential; without their action, regional efforts may not suffice. She urged delegates to push for accountability as countries prepare the next cycle of Nationally Determined Contributions, noting that the recent International Court of Justice decision provides a legal basis to demand greater accountability. Brown-Reupena also underscored the health dimension of climate change, including rising vector-borne diseases such as dengue fever, warning that protecting public health is central to climate resilience.
Over the next three days, delegates will exchange challenges, lessons, and successes with a view to shaping coordinated, impactful climate action for the Blue Pacific. Rev Salesulu urged participants to plant seeds for the future, even when they may not directly see the benefits today, reminding attendees that “the tree we plant today will provide shelter for our youth tomorrow.”
Context and outlook
The roundtable takes place amid broader regional and global climate efforts. Leaders and climate advocates have been signaling that concrete progress is needed ahead of major international negotiations, including COP30 in Belém, Brazil, later this year, and ongoing conversations about hosting COP31 in the Pacific. In this context, discussions around climate finance, particularly loss and damage funding, have taken on heightened urgency. Civil society and regional voices have long pressed for strengthened accountability from major emitters and more robust financial support to Pacific nations as they pursue adaptation and decarbonization. The Pacific also continues to emphasize the importance of multisectoral approaches, health resilience, and the integration of traditional knowledge with science in climate planning.
The roundtable aligns with the Blue Pacific’s broader strategic framework, including the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, and underscores the region’s determination to translate commitments into action, while keeping a hopeful focus on a resilient and thriving Pacific.
What to watch
– How proposals for building knowledge and capacity (including climate science information programs) translate into practical action at the national and community levels.
– Steps to strengthen negotiations and secure concrete pledges on finance, adaptation, and loss and damage.
– Progress toward multisectoral, cross-ministerial cooperation that breaks down silos and accelerates implementation of climate commitments.
– Early planning for COP31 participation and leadership in the Pacific, and how this could influence global negotiations.
Summary
The Apia roundtable marks a renewed push for tangible climate action in the Pacific, anchored by a clear 1.5°C target and a commitment to translate dialogue into outcomes. With regional leadership, scientific capacity building, and a focus on accountability and health resilience, the meeting aims to advance coordinated action across governments, civil society, and communities to safeguard the Blue Pacific and its people.
Commentary
The informal, space-for-dialogue format can help unlock practical, multi-ministerial cooperation that traditional intergovernmental settings sometimes lack. By elevating health impacts and linking climate action to everyday living, the roundtable foregrounds people-centered resilience. A successful outcome would not only advance regional ambitions but also bolster Pacific leverage in upcoming international negotiations, signaling that small island states can drive ambitious, implementation-ready climate policy.
Positive note
There is cautious optimism that the roundtable will produce concrete commitments, reinforce regional unity, and strengthen accountability on the world stage, contributing to a future where Pacific communities thrive in a changing climate.
Leave a comment