Pacific leaders look to Chris Bowen to advance climate finance, ocean protection and renewable energy priorities at COP31.

Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, will lead negotiations at the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), with Pacific leaders hoping the region’s priorities will be reflected in the final outcomes.

Bowen has been appointed President of Negotiations for COP31 under an arrangement between Australia and Türkiye, which will host the conference in Antalya from 9 to 20 November 2026.

The arrangement gives Australia responsibility for leading the formal negotiations, while Türkiye holds the COP presidency and leads the conference’s Action Agenda.

Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Palau President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. says Bowen will play an important role in ensuring Pacific concerns are carried into the international negotiations.

“Minister Bowen is our leader for the Pacific and also leading negotiations at COP,” President Whipps said.

He said the Pacific must continue engaging with international partners and participating in the multilateral process to ensure its priorities remain on the negotiating table.

The Pacific Pre-COP meetings were held in Fiji and Tuvalu from 5 to 8 October, bringing together more than 4,000 people from over 100 countries through the official meetings and associated stakeholder events.

One of the key outcomes was the adoption of the Taku Pakasoa Declaration, which sets out the Pacific’s call for stronger global action to keep the 1.5°C temperature goal within reach, improve access to climate finance, strengthen climate resilience and give greater recognition to the link between oceans and climate change.

The declaration also welcomes growing momentum towards increasing electrification to 35 per cent of global final energy use by 2035, supported by investment in energy storage and electricity grids.

The meeting also secured new international commitments to the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), a Pacific-led initiative aimed at helping communities prepare for climate and disaster risks.

Among the new contributions announced was US$1.1 million from Solomon Islands, alongside commitments from Fiji, Denmark, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

These priorities will now need to be carried into discussions in Türkiye, where countries will consider how to turn climate commitments into practical action.

President Whipps said the Pacific must continue pushing for these issues to remain central to the negotiations.

“We’re very fortunate to have a pre-COP in the Pacific, to have our issues brought forward there,” he said.

“Now it’s our job to go to Türkiye and continue to put those at the forefront to ensure that we have deliverable outcomes,” he said.

He identified climate finance, ocean protection and renewable energy investment as key areas requiring continued attention.

“At the end of the day, the people want to see action, and that’s why PRF is an important part of that,” he said.

President Whipps also highlighted the need to attract investment in renewable energy projects, saying these were important issues for the Pacific to continue raising during the negotiations.

He said the region hoped its concerns would be reflected in the outcomes of COP31.

“Our voices hopefully can be carried through, and we have real deliverables for the Pacific,” he said.

COP31 will take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026.