2 July 2026, Port Vila - The most authentic understanding of climate change is found in the voices of our mothers, aunties, grandmothers, fishers, farmers and communities who witness these changes every single day.
Tuvalu Minister of Home Affairs and Climate Change, Hon. Dr Maina Talia, said these are the voices officials must carry into every negotiation room and every Conference of the Parties, as Pacific countries fight for their survival from the impacts of climate change.
In Vanuatu where Pacific Wave Makers have converged for the inaugural Pacific Innovation Forum for Climate and Environment (PIFCE), Minister Talia said he was deeply moved by the voices of Ni-Vanuatu women.
“Last night, we had the privilege of listening to the niVanuatu women share their stories. I believe that particular session was one of the most profound moments of this gathering,” Minister Talia said.
“They did not present scientific graphs or policy papers. They did not quote the latest IPCC assessment reports or academic journals. Instead, they shared something far more powerful—their lived experiences.
“They spoke of changing seasons, disappearing coastlines, saltwater intruding into gardens, declining fisheries, the struggle to provide food for their families, and the uncertainty that climate change has brought into their daily lives. They defined climate change in their own language, through stories rooted in culture, faith, family and community.”
The Tuvalu Minister of Home Affairs and Climate Change made the point when he spoke during a Panel on “Pacific Leadership in Global Climate Decision-Making” on the first day of PIFCE 2026.
Moderated by SPREP Director Climate Change Resilience, Tagaloa Cooper, the panel also featured SPREP Director General, Mr Sefanaia Nawadra, Mr Corey Huber, Board Member Vanuatu Business Resilience Council and Ms Haruka Lavadi Shing, Next Gen Youth Ambassador.
According to Minister Talia, Pacific leadership has already delivered remarkable achievements on the global stage. He pointed to the recognition of the 1.5°C temperature goal in the Paris Agreement and the elevation of Loss and Damage, resulting in the establishment of a dedicated international funding mechanism to support countries suffering irreversible climate impacts, as some examples.
He commended Vanuatu’s leadership on international environmental law.
“Vanuatu successfully led the global initiative at the United Nations General Assembly requesting an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice on the obligations of States regarding climate change. This historic initiative has united nations across the world around the principle that climate justice must be grounded in international law,” said Minister Talia, who added that these achievements demonstrate the simple truth that the “Pacific does not wait for change—we lead it.”
Ahead of COP31 in Türkiye, the Pacific region will once again assume a leadership role. The Pacific pre-COP Meeting will be held in Fiji and a Special Pacific Leaders Event in Tuvalu, where leaders will reaffirm their shared priorities and strengthen the Pacific voice on the global stage.
“Climate action cannot succeed through governments alone. It requires the voices of our churches, our women leaders, our traditional leaders, our youth, our communities, and our development partners working together,” said Minister Talia.
“The science tells us what is happening. Our people remind us why it matters. As Pacific leaders, these are the voices we must carry into every regional meeting, every negotiation room and every Conference of the Parties. Because when we speak internationally, we are not simply presenting policy positions—we are carrying the lived experiences of our people.”
The inaugural Pacific Innovation Forum on Climate and Environment (PIFCE) is held in Port Vila, Vanuatu from 1–3 July 2026.
Attended by government Ministers, officials, entrepreneurs, non-governmental organisations, civil society groups, private sector leaders, and academic institutions from across the Pacific, PIFCE is an initiative of the Government of Vanuatu.
It is co-organised by the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC)/Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and V-Lab Vanuatu.
It is supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, British High Commission Port Vila and the United Kingdom Development from the UK Government
To find out more, visit: https://pcccinnovation.com/pifce2026/