Pacific leaders call for investment at COP31

Pacific leaders are urging the international community to “Back the Blue Pacific Continent” at COP31 by investing in Pacific-led responses to rising sea levels, warming oceans, and extreme weather. Emphasizing a desire for autonomy, leaders stated, “We don’t need saving; we need investment on our own terms.”

The call follows the adoption of the Taku Pakasoa Declaration at the Pacific Pre-COP on 6 October. This declaration outlines shared priorities, including maintaining the 1.5°C global warming limit, improving access to climate finance, strengthening community resilience, and protecting the ocean. One key mechanism mentioned is the Pacific Resilience Facility.

A new documentary, Pacific Rising, is set to launch at COP31 on 12 November. Narrated by Samoan-Australian actor Catherine Lagaaia, the film highlights local adaptation efforts, such as land-raising projects in Tuvalu and horticultural adaptations in Tonga, to demonstrate how Pacific communities are utilizing science and traditional knowledge to combat climate change.