By Poto Williams, ICP Executive Director
1. Background
PreCOP31 in Nadi, Fiji in October 2026, gave stakeholders an opportunity to discuss the issues and agree positions to be promoted on behalf of the Pacific to COP31 Antalya, Turkiye, 9-20 November 2026. Delegates in Fiji recommitted to 4 substantive goals; to minimise temperature overshoot of the 1.5 warming target and any overshoot must be minimal and short lived, that climate finance must be accessible and impactful, we must transition to a fossil fuel free future and Oceans must have prominence and be considered in its own right.
Sitting under these keys themes was the strongest of messages promoted at PreCOP31 and that is, the time for implementation, goals and targets is gone – we must activate!
ICP was represented at PreCOP by the Executive Director and ICP welcomes the opportunity to reiterate these messages and remind leaders and decision makers what the Pacific prioritises and how the Pacific Way shows us leadership through consensus, respect and humility.
2. Oceans find their voice
Attending the program hosted by One Ocean, delegates were advised that Oceans would be a feature of their own COP (COP1 Oceans) in New York in January 2027 and made the plea for Turou Hawaiki, “the Oceans must be prominent and not be reduced to a side project.
Matters and interests of the Climate and Oceans should not be considered in isolation,” what is felt in the sea is also felt on the land”. We now have a permanent place for the Climate agenda within BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) a legally binding international treaty, also known as the High Seas Treaty, and now through the Oceans COP1.
OneOcean posed the following items for consideration. Firstly that the cultural and moral viewpoint of matauranga (indigenous knowledge) should not be the afterthought, it should be the starting point and that there is no knowledge exchange without the rights for indigenous Intellectual Property being catered for. Secondly, Indiengeity is not homogenous, each of us need to be heard in our own way and the pacific has worked hard to achieve parity of scientific knowledge and indigenous knowledge within the agreement. And also that high Seas protection is strongly contributory to climate resiliency.
3. Intersectionality
Given the opportunity of intersectionality with climate, biodiversity and peace and security, its important to understand what work is underway, and what has already commenced. We examine key agreements starting with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), with 4 goals for 2050 and 23 targets for 2030, including protection of 30% of land and oceans by 2030, agreed to at CBD15 Biodiversity COP in 2022. We understand that Antalya COP has now committed to 35% Electrification by 2035, thereby addressing the transition from fossil fuels reliance.
The UNESCO Ocean Decade utilises science to build actionable projects in local communities, such as the work replanting of sea grass prairies and the restoration of coral reef. Science informs decision makers, but messages are clear that implementation and action must be the primary response, as we work to minimise the overshoot of the 1.5 rise in global temperature.
Activating local communities has carried many journeys to wonderful outcomes, the Students against climate change resulted in the advisory decision by the ICJ, the “Dont Mine the Moana Movement” 350 Climate, The Climate Action Networks, and the increase in youth movements demonstrates the building of sustainability in the people powered climate movements. PreCOP31 provided the opportunity to coalesce, prioritise and strategize for impact especially for the Pacific.
Finance continues to be a topic of vigorous discussion, and the opportunity for island nations to take greater control of their climate future. Exemplars of self determined responses include the Ocean Conservation Commitments from the Niue Ocean Wide Trust, The Endowment Fund in the Kingdom of Tonga. Both give local communities the power to design responses that meet multiple needs. Locally focussed programs and projects, Utilising indigenous knowledge and providing opportunities for local people to upskill and be actively engaged. Not only providing sustainable solutions, they are locally created, owned and driven and the positive outcomes and a multitude of impacts across villages and communities. These are solutions that hold communities with dignity and are inclusive and above all respectful of all the knowledge and whakapapa held by local people.
4. ICP Presence at COP31
We hope you follow our team as roving reporters who will highlight the advances being made and the breadth and scope of the discussions and agreements, as well as the calls for implementation and action. Covering the 2 weeks in Antalya we want to bring you the latest in information, collaborations and advances and we would love to hear from you too. Please share your highlights with ICP. Lets multiply the voices of our communities and activists as we inform and educate to drive solutions across the globe.
Mālō aupito – Poto