The treaty establishing the Pacific Resilience Facility officially entered into force on 6 May after Australia and Fiji jointly presented instruments of ratification in Suva, marking a major milestone for regional climate resilience and adaptation financing in the Pacific.
The instruments were deposited with Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Baron Divavesi Waqa by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Fiji’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Sakiasi Ditoka.
Waqa described the treaty’s entry into force as a “defining milestone” for the Blue Pacific region, highlighting the facility’s role in supporting climate adaptation, energy security and clean energy transition projects at the community level.
The Pacific Resilience Facility was endorsed by Forum leaders in 2023 during their meeting in the Cook Islands under a declaration establishing the mechanism. Leaders later agreed in 2024 to designate Tonga as host country for the facility.
The treaty entered into force eight months after being signed by 15 Forum leaders during the 2025 leaders’ meeting in Solomon Islands, reflecting what regional officials described as strong political commitment toward climate resilience financing.
The facility aims to provide regionally led financing support for Pacific communities facing climate-related vulnerabilities and disasters.
Regional governments have so far secured pledges amounting to US$172 million toward an initial capitalisation target of US$500 million by December 2026. The longer-term target is US$1.5 billion to support resilience initiatives aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The treaty’s commencement comes ahead of planned COP31 pre-COP climate events to be hosted later this year by Fiji and Tuvalu, while Australia is expected to lead negotiations as COP31 president.
The treaty’s entry into force also triggers the inaugural meeting of the PRF Council, scheduled to take place after the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in June 2026 in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
In addition to Australia and Fiji, the treaty has also been ratified by Tonga, Nauru, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Cook Islands and New Zealand.
