Sixth Asia-Pacific Forum on Environment opens in Nadi, Fiji, as regional leaders gather to chart action
The sixth Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific officially opened today in Nadi, Fiji, at the Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa. The four-day gathering is hosting more than 300 delegates from 30 countries across the Asia-Pacific region, marking the first time the forum has been held in the Pacific subregion.
The event is jointly organized by Fiji’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It serves as the region’s premier platform for governments, intergovernmental organizations, and stakeholders to address pressing and emerging environmental challenges, with a focus on advancing the environmental dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals and supporting the implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements.
A key objective of the forum is to shape the Asia-Pacific region’s input to the Seventh Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), scheduled for December 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya. Delegates will contribute to the draft ministerial declaration and proposed resolutions that will guide regional positions on environmental governance and policy.
This morning, Fiji also marked the opening of the Asia Pacific Youth Environment Forum 2025, as Minister for Climate Change Mosese Bulitavu welcomed young environmental leaders to the broader week of discussions. The simultaneous events highlight a concerted push to engage youth voices in regional environmental stewardship.
The gathering in Nadi follows Fiji’s growing role in regional environmental diplomacy, including ongoing participation in major forums and partnerships across the Pacific. Observers note that regional platforms like this forum are increasingly important for aligning national actions with global environmental goals and for mobilizing partnerships and funding to implement climate and biodiversity initiatives.
Context from recent regional activities shows Fiji’s leadership is expanding beyond policy to practical collaboration, with forums in Suva and other Pacific hubs reinforcing the emphasis on ecosystem protection, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development. While financing remains a common challenge for many Pacific Island nations, the conversations at Nadi are expected to spotlight innovative financing mechanisms and regional cooperation to scale effective solutions.
Summary: The six forums in the Asia-Pacific region bring together governments, intergovernmental bodies, and stakeholders to strengthen environmental governance, align with SDGs and MEAs, and shape the region’s contributions to UNEA-7, with Fiji’s leadership and youth involvement adding momentum to regional environmental action.
Commentary and outlook: This event signals an enduring commitment to environmental governance in the Pacific and reinforces Fiji’s position as a regional hub for climate and biodiversity policy. The outcomes could influence not only regional strategies but also opportunities for funding and technical support to implement MEAs and SDG-related projects across the Pacific. Readers should watch for the ministerial declaration and resolutions emerging from UNEA-7 inputs, as they may shape regional collaborations and financing approaches in the years ahead. Positive momentum from these forums offers hope for accelerated progress on climate resilience, conservation, and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific.
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