Pacific Islands Forum leaders have called for stronger access to climate and development finance, putting financing needs at the centre of discussions with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres during the UN General Assembly in New York.
The leaders highlighted the need for greater international support for Pacific-led priorities, including climate action, resilience and sustainable development, during their annual dialogue with Guterres on the margins of the 81st UNGA session.
The meeting followed commitments agreed at the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau and was aimed at connecting regional priorities with international action, financing and implementation.
A key focus was the Pacific Resilience Facility, a Pacific-led financing mechanism intended to strengthen the resilience of communities across the region.
Leaders also highlighted the Pacific's pathway towards the UN climate conference COP31 and called for improved access to climate and development finance.
“The Pacific must continue to navigate together. Our 2050 Strategy remains our compass,” said Palau President and PIF Chair Surangel Whipps Jr.
“Our theme, B.E.L.A.U.: Building Economies: Life. Action. Unity. reminded us that the journey must ultimately serve our people, our communities, and the generations who will inherit our Blue Pacific. It also reminded us that we can do more together.”
The Forum said the dialogue reinforced the importance of a long-term Pacific-UN partnership that links regional priorities with global decision-making, financing and implementation.
Guterres reaffirmed the UN's support for the Pacific's role in advancing regional priorities, particularly on climate change.
“The biggest richness of our world is the Pacific Ocean and that means that the region must be effectively protected, effectively supported,” Guterres said.
He added that major powers should support Pacific countries in managing and developing their own countries rather than seeking to replace their role in the region.
The leaders' call for improved financing comes as Pacific island countries face significant funding requirements associated with climate adaptation, resilience and development while dealing with vulnerabilities associated with their small size and exposure to climate-related risks.
Beyond financing, leaders reaffirmed the Pacific's vision of the Blue Pacific as an Ocean of Peace and raised issues including sea-level rise, nuclear matters and transnational crime.
They also called for reforms to regional and global institutions to make them more responsive to the needs of Pacific communities.
The meeting was Guterres' final dialogue with PIF leaders in this format before his term as UN secretary-general ends at the close of 2026.
Pacific leaders thanked Guterres for his longstanding support for the region and his efforts to keep issues including climate change, sea-level rise and the vulnerabilities of small island developing states on the international agenda.
The Forum said the dialogue demonstrated the importance of maintaining a Pacific-UN partnership capable of translating regional priorities into international policy, financing and implementation.
