Opposition urges Government to secure measurable climate finance and resilience outcomes for Solomon Islands at Pre-COP31.
The Official Opposition has called on the Solomon Islands Government to use the Pacific Pre-COP31 meeting in Nadi, Fiji, to secure clear, measurable and nationally relevant outcomes for Solomon Islands.
The Pacific Pre-COP31, under way this week, is an important opportunity for Pacific Island Countries to consolidate their positions ahead of COP31 and ensure that Pacific priorities are reflected in global climate negotiations.
The Leader of the Official Opposition Hon. Manasseh Sogavare MP, said Solomon Islands must use the meeting to put forward a number of clear demands, backed by evidence, international law and the lived experience of Solomon Islanders.
Hon. Sogavare emphasized, Solomon Islands contributes less than 0.0015% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, yet remains highly exposed to the consequences of climate change.
At the same time, Solomon Islands has committed to ambitious climate action and continues to require substantial international finance, capacity-building and technology transfer to meet those commitments.
The Leader said this creates a clear responsibility for the Government to ensure that international climate diplomacy produces tangible support for Solomon Islands.
“Our people cannot be expected to carry the cost of a crisis they did not create.”
The Leader said COP31 should not become another occasion where governments simply reaffirm previous commitments without strengthening implementation.
The Opposition calls on the Government to seek concrete international commitments on emissions reduction, renewable energy, energy efficiency, adaptation and resilience.
The Leader of the official Opposition believes the Government should give greater prominence to the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on the obligations of States in respect of climate change, delivered on 23 July 2025.
The ICJ clarified that States have legal obligations under international law concerning the protection of the climate system from greenhouse-gas emissions. The Court also linked climate obligations with environmental protection, human rights and other applicable areas of international law. It concluded that breaches of applicable obligations can engage State responsibility and the legal consequences that follow from that responsibility.
The Leader said Solomon Islands should now ensure that the legal significance of the ICJ opinion is reflected in its Pre-COP31 position.
“The Pacific took the climate issue to the world’s highest court. We should not now allow that achievement to sit on a shelf in The Hague. We must use the legal clarity provided by the Court to strengthen climate diplomacy, climate policy and international accountability.”
The Opposition leader emphasized, Climate finance should be one of the Government’s highest priorities at Pre-COP31 as Solomon Islands’ climate commitments depend substantially on international support.
The Opposition supports stronger Pacific backing for the Pacific Resilience Facility, PRF.
The PRF is precisely the kind of Pacific-led mechanism we should support. But a facility without sufficient capital cannot protect our communities. We need commitments, contributions and delivery.
He further reminds the Government that the Opposition support the Government speaking strongly on greater climate finance, action on loss and damage, protection of our oceans and the principles reflected in the ICJ advisory opinion.
Solomon Islanders need to see what these international commitments mean for their villages, their schools, their health services, their water supply, their roads, their fisheries and their livelihoods.”
The Opposition stands ready to support a strong, united Pacific position on climate change while continuing to hold the Government accountable for delivering tangible results.
SOURCE// OPPOSITION PRESS RELEASE
