Fiji will host the COP31 Pre-COP from October 5 to 8, organisers announced this week, unveiling an expanded programme that includes a high-level leaders’ segment and plans for part of the proceedings to be held in Tuvalu. Environment and Climate Change Minister Lynda Tabuya made the announcement during the Pacific Climate Change Ministers Meeting in Brisbane, framing the gathering as a vital preparatory step for next year’s global climate negotiations.
The Pre-COP is being positioned as a practical, solutions-focused forum that brings together governments, civil society, Indigenous groups and the private sector. Organisers say the extended programme and dedicated leaders’ segment are designed to sharpen political direction and urgency on climate action, and to better align political commitments with technical implementation as climate pressures intensify across the Pacific and beyond.
A notable development in the announcement was the explicit consultation with Tuvalu and the decision to host some high-level discussions there. The move signals a concerted effort to amplify Pacific island voices on the international stage and to ensure affected small island states are centrally involved in shaping regional and global negotiating positions ahead of COP31. The Fiji government said hosting parts of the Pre-COP in Tuvalu underscores Pacific leadership and the need for those most impacted by climate change to be heard directly in forums that set global priorities.
Minister Tabuya outlined the government’s intent for the Pre-COP to produce “practical outcomes” rather than solely political statements, prioritising tangible pathways from political commitment to technical follow-through. While full details of the programme were not released at the Brisbane meeting, the inclusion of a leaders’ segment suggests organisers aim to secure higher-level buy-in that can accelerate implementation of adaptation, resilience and mitigation measures in the region.
The multi-stakeholder format reflects growing recognition in the Pacific that effective climate responses require coordination beyond traditional government-to-government talks. By inviting Indigenous representatives, civil society organisations and the private sector, Fiji is signalling an intent to surface local knowledge, private-sector solutions and community perspectives alongside technical and diplomatic inputs during the Pre-COP deliberations.
This announcement updates earlier regional planning by setting firm dates and clarifying the expanded scope of the Pre-COP. For Pacific nations, the event will be a key moment to consolidate shared priorities and to present a unified platform in advance of COP31. Officials said further logistical details, including venues, agendas and participating leader confirmations, will be released in the coming months as preparations intensify.
Fiji’s Pre-COP now joins a calendar of pre-conference meetings that aim to shape formal COP negotiations. By centring Pacific leadership and including Tuvalu in the hosting footprint, the organisers are seeking to ensure that the unique vulnerabilities and priorities of island nations are integrated into the preparatory work that will inform next year’s global climate talks.
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