By Sanjeshni Kumar, Pacnews
The 2025 Pacific Climate Change Roundtable has opened in Apia, Samoa today, uniting representatives from across the region with a renewed call for urgent, tangible action to meet the 1.5°C target and safeguard the future of Pacific communities.
Reverend Siaosi Salesulu opened the gathering with a rallying message inspired by the theme “1.5 to stay alive and thrive.”
“The survival of our region hinges on the attainment of this global temperature goal,” Rev Salesulu told delegates. “Not only do we seek to stay alive — we are robust, and we are focused and determined to thrive.”
He warned against meetings that produce no real outcomes.
“Every meeting in this region, people like myself wait with bated breath — what are the results? What are the fruits? Yes, we are alive, but existing is not enough. What we want, what we expect, what our children demand, and what we deserve in the Pacific is to thrive in our corner of Eden.”
SPREP Director General, Sefanaia Nawadra reflected on the return of the roundtable, describing it as filling a “missing link” in the region’s climate architecture.
Nawadra recalled last year’s decision to make the meeting more open and informal, creating space for genuine dialogue beyond the constraints of formal intergovernmental processes.
“It’s a crucial space to share, to test ideas, and to agree on ways we can support our governments, who ultimately represent the people of our Pacific,” said Nawadra.
He outlined three priorities for SPREP: building knowledge and capacity — including through the new Climate Science and Information Programme and regional climate science conferences; supporting negotiations; and strengthening national implementation of climate commitments.
He also emphasised the need to break down silos and adopt multisectoral approaches to address climate change effectively.
“It’s no longer enough to play on the emotions,” he said. “We have to have concrete information that allows people to recognise that these are real things being experienced.”
He also called for early planning to make the most of the Pacific’s potential hosting of COP31.
Samoa’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Chief Executive Officer, Lealaisalanoa Frances Brown-Reupena, officially welcomed delegates, describing the reconvened Roundtable as “a new strong branch, one that will not be pruned off again.”
She linked the gathering’s work to the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and praised Pacific small island developing states for “punching above our weight” in cutting emissions and transitioning to low-carbon economies.
But she warned that none of these efforts will matter if developed countries, the world’s largest emitters, fail to act.
“As countries prepare the third cycle of National Determined Contributions (NDCs), we need to ensure countries account for their emissions,” she said, noting that the recent International Court of Justice decision provides legal strength to demand this accountability.
Brown-Reupena also urged delegates to address the health impacts of climate change, including the rise of vector-borne diseases such as dengue fever, which are affecting communities across the region.
“Protecting our people’s health is at the very core of climate resilience,” she said.
Over the next three days, delegates will share challenges, lessons, and successes with the goal of shaping coordinated, impactful climate action for the Blue Pacific.
Rev Salesulu urged participants to plant seeds for the future, even if they do not directly benefit from them: “The tree we plant today will provide shelter for our youth tomorrow… it may be of no use to me or you, but it will be for our children.”
The Pacific Climate Change Roundtable (PCCR), guided by the theme “1.5 to stay alive and thrive,” is taking place at Taumeasina Island Resort from 13-15 August. The PCCR is attended by Pacific governments, youths, civil society, academia, NGOs, and the private sector to engage collectively through the use of interactive activities to share their experiences amongst peers, bolster their networks and utilise the event to initiate new partnership opportunities.
The PCCR follows the Pacific Regional Loss and Damage Dialogue 2025 and the inaugural Pacific Youth Dialogue on Loss and Damage, at the same venue in Samoa.
This story was produced by the Pacific Media Team covering the meetings. Their attendance is made possible with funding support from the Loss and Damage Capability and Capacity (LDCC) Project with the Government of New Zealand.