Climate change poses a significant threat, particularly for countries and territories in the Pacific, which are experiencing an increase in natural disasters that jeopardize both lives and livelihoods. During the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) held in Tokyo from July 16 to 18, Pacific leaders emphasized the urgent need for collective efforts to enhance climate resilience in the region.
Japan and the Pacific Island nations acknowledged the necessity of addressing climate change and other pressing challenges. The discussions in Tokyo highlighted Japan’s commitments to various areas, including disaster risk reduction, maritime security, economic development, and cybersecurity.
Professor Izumi Kobayashi from Osaka Gakuin University stated that PALM10 represented the culmination of Japan’s longstanding cooperation with Pacific nations. He noted that the support provided has been positively received and is essential for the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.
At the meeting, leaders pledged to strengthen partnerships based on trust and deep connections, referred to in Japanese as “kizuna.” This partnership aligns with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent developed by the Pacific Islands Forum, which recognizes climate change as the foremost threat facing the region.
A key initiative unveiled at the summit was the Pacific Climate Resilience Initiative, aimed at utilizing Japanese financial and technological resources to bolster disaster risk reduction and response in Pacific Island countries, while also promoting decarbonization efforts. This initiative builds upon Japan’s existing support, including its collaboration with the Pacific Climate Change Centre established in 2019 in Samoa and its assistance to five other nations in the region to enhance energy transitions.
Japan’s strategy includes fostering exchanges of people, information, and technology with Pacific Island nations. At PALM10, Japan committed to various human resource development programs that will impact over 6,500 individuals over the next three years, encompassing areas such as science and technology and security.
Significant bilateral initiatives, such as a cooperation agreement between Japan and Fiji, aim to implement Japan’s emergency warning and disaster management services in Fiji. Additional agreements at PALM10 involve delivering patrol boats to Nauru, fisheries research support to several countries, and reconstruction assistance in the Marshall Islands and Palau.
Professor Kobayashi remarked that the commitments made at PALM10 further strengthened the trust built over previous meetings. He emphasized the need for ongoing communication to enhance the initiatives’ effectiveness in collaboration with other countries supporting the region.
The Leaders’ Declaration from the summit underscored the importance of global peace, democratic values, sustainable development, and environmental integrity, affirming that international law protects the rights and freedoms of all nations, irrespective of their size or influence.
The PALM gatherings, initiated in 1997, continue to demonstrate Japan’s commitment to working closely with the people of the Blue Pacific, aligning with Prime Minister Kishida’s vision of collective progress.