Pacific ministers will gather in Vanuatu next week as a string of fuel shocks and economic strains across the region sharpen calls for a global phase-out of fossil fuels. The Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) will hold the third Pacific Ministerial Dialogue on the Global Just Transition — known as Port Vila II — in Port Vila from April 13 to 15, aiming to forge a unified Pacific position ahead of international talks later this month.
The meeting comes amid acute supply and price disruptions linked to the ongoing conflict in Iran, which have underlined the region’s heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels. Fiji has recorded a 20 percent rise in petrol prices, while Tuvalu has sent government workers home in a cost-cutting move, and the Marshall Islands has declared a 90-day economic emergency to manage fiscal pressures. Organisers and Pacific delegates say the immediate economic fallout reinforces the security and development arguments for accelerating a transition away from oil and gas.
Dr Tzeporah Berman, founder and chair of the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, said the Pacific has long been at the forefront of pushing for a global Fossil Fuel Treaty. “Pacific Island nations were the first countries to call for a Fossil Fuel Treaty,” she said, noting that the current supply constraints and high oil prices have only amplified long-standing island concerns about dependence on imported fuels. The initiative is encouraging PSIDS to consider forming an inter-governmental task force at Port Vila II to coordinate regional engagement and build momentum toward a binding global treaty.
Port Vila II is also being viewed as a preparatory forum for the First International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, scheduled to take place later this month in Santa Marta, Colombia. Vanuatu’s Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Ralph Regenvanu, said the Pacific must ensure its voice is heard at those international negotiations. “The Pacific did not create the fossil fuel crisis, yet we are paying the highest price for it,” Regenvanu said, adding that the talks are about the survival of Pacific communities facing sea-level rise, intensifying cyclones and other climate impacts.
Pacific advocates argue the region’s stance is not merely about emissions reductions but also about economic and national security. Joseph Sikulu, a regional climate advocate, said leading on the transition is driven by necessity: “For Pacific Islands, leading on climate has never been a choice — it is survival.” Delegates at Port Vila II are expected to push for outcomes that tie global fossil fuel phase-down commitments to specific support mechanisms for small island states, including finance, technical assistance and supply alternatives to reduce vulnerability to international market shocks.
The push comes as scrutiny intensifies over Australia’s continued approvals of coal and gas projects. The incoming coverage notes Australia is set to preside over COP31 negotiations in 2026, a role that Pacific leaders and advocates say raises questions about leadership and credibility if Canberra continues to greenlight fossil fuel expansion. Pacific delegates hope a strong regional position from Port Vila II and coordinated engagement in Santa Marta will increase pressure for a genuinely global framework to curb fossil fuel production and support a just transition for frontline states.
With both immediate economic impacts and longer-term climate threats converging, Pacific ministers face a high-stakes meeting in Port Vila. Officials say the three-day dialogue will be crucial for aligning PSIDS strategies, mobilising international backing, and ensuring small island priorities shape the emerging global debate on winding down fossil fuel production.
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