10 September 2025, Honiara, Solomon Islands - Climate Change remains an existential issue for Pacific countries, and unless urgent and meaningful action is taken, Pacific communities will continue to face the brunt of the climate crisis.
This reality is not lost on Pacific Leaders gathering in Honiara, Solomon Islands for the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, this week.
Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Hon. Jeremiah Manele, opened the meeting, saying the theme “Iumi Tugeda: Act Now for an Integrated Blue Pacific Continent” reflected the “urgency for regional unity and action”.
“An Integrated Blue Pacific Continent” reaffirms our shared vision and commitment to working together and envisions a region that is not only connected by geography, but by purpose, values, and vision. If ever there was a time that demanded strengthened Pacific regionalism and collective action, it is now,” said Hon. Manele.
“Act Now” reminds us that the challenges we face demand immediate and united responses.”
PIFLM54 kicked off in Honiara on Monday with climate change and security amongst the key issues on the agenda.
During the PIFLM Leaders Dialogue with the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP), on Tuesday, the Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Mr Sefanaia Nawadra, reiterated the importance of urgent and meaningful action to address climate change.
“The IPCC assessment reports are clear - urgent emission reductions must be made to limit global warming to the Paris Agreements 1.5˚C temperature limit or there will be catastrophic consequences for sea-level rise, coastal erosion, water insecurity, saltwater intrusion, increased droughts and biodiversity loss,” Mr Nawadra said.
“Recently, the International Court of Justice affirmed that states have an “obligation to prevent significant damage to the environment” and found that the legally applicable temperature warming limit is 1.5°C. These two global bodies validate and reinforce our Pacific voice for 1.5 to stay Alive and thrive”.
The 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting and Associated Meetings are taking place in the Solomon Islands. The leaders of the 18-member forum, including Australia and New Zealand, will head to the seaside settlement of Munda for a retreat on Thursday.
The annual gathering of Pacific Islands Forum Leaders is an opportunity to deliberate on issues impacting and concerning member countries as well as the region.
In delivering the intervention of behalf of One CROP, SPREP Director General reminded that 2024 was the warmest year on record in the South-West Pacific with record-breaking temperatures in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji posing severe risks to health and ecosystems.
He added that the sea-surface temperatures continue to reach record highs, Ocean acidification is causing stress for coral reefs and biodiversity across region. On top of that, glacier ice loss continues at an alarming rate with sea levels in the South-West Pacific rising faster than the global average.
SPREP’s Director General is attending the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting and associated meetings following the Thirty second SPREP Meeting of Officials (SM32) in Samoa last week, where the call for urgent action to address the devasting impacts of the triple planetary crises on Pacific communities was further amplified.
Speaking before Pacific Leaders in Honiara, Mr Nawadra reiterated: “Our Leaders, Political Champions, Negotiators, Youth and communities must continue to amplify our Pacific Voice at COP 30 at the end of the year in Brazil, where we must also advocate for our hosting of a Pacific COP 31 in partnership with Australia.”
Chair and Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Hon. Jeremiah Manele welcomed the Dialogue with CROP agencies, saying: "I have always valued these dialogues as an opportunity to hear directly from stakeholders on key challenges and opportunities they see that we, collectively as Forum Leaders, can support them in addressing...It is an opportunity for Tok Stori, on how we can work together to better deliver for our Pacific people."
Photos Credit: Pacific Islands Forum