Photo: Tavuli News- Solomon Islands
Germany backs Pacific Pre-COP 31, supporting climate finance, resilience, and island nations’ leadership.
Germany is strongly supportive of the Pre-Conference of the Parties in the Pacific, rallying behind the initiative to bring the region’s climate priorities to the global stage.
Gerhard Schlaudraff, Director for Climate and Energy Diplomacy at the German Federal Foreign Office, told Tavuli News in Berlin that Germany looks forward to supporting Australia in achieving the Pacific’s goals.
“Germany has always been very supportive of Australia’s idea to add a Pacific COP 31 to include the CIDs and the Pacific CIDs into the process. We are committed to bringing the situation in the Pacific to the forefront of the COPs,” he said.
Schlaudraff has played a key role in Germany’s international climate diplomacy, focusing on climate finance, sustainable development, and support for vulnerable countries, including Small Island Developing States. He emphasized that the Pre-COP’s outcomes will help sustain the climate conversation and that having small island nations lead it for the first time is critical.
Germany leads in climate diplomacy, finance, and renewable energy transition, using its technical expertise and funding to influence global climate action, particularly for Pacific countries. Schlaudraff also commended the Pacific Resilient Facility for supporting island nations in turning challenges into solutions.
“It’s a very innovative tool. The idea is also to mobilise the private sector to support the Pacific Resilient Facility. We will try to bring in German investors if possible to make the PRF a success,” he said.
While initiatives like these are valuable, Schlaudraff stressed the importance of leaders visiting the region to see firsthand what support is needed. “From the beginning, we’ve been supportive of the process. Our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Johann Wadephul, recently visited the Pacific, meeting the King, Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister of Tonga. They discussed the P and Germany’s contribution, which the President confirmed as five million. The facility is still being launched.”
This week 26 February 2026, Solomon Islands Prime Minister and Pacific Islands Forum Chair Jeremiah Manele welcomed the agreement between Australia and Türkiye that the Pacific would host the Pre-COP and a special leaders’ event ahead of the World Leaders’ Summit in November 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said, “Australia will work closely with our Pacific partners to support a successful Pre-COP as part of our shared effort to address frontline countries of climate crisis.”
Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen added, “Hosting the Pre-COP and a leaders’ event in the Blue Pacific is an opportunity for the region to work together on this critical issue and bring global attention to their leadership.”
Schlaudraff echoed this sentiment, noting the potential for major countries to enhance support for Pacific Island nations through the Pre-COP.
“We have learned over many years that if European countries and Small Island Developing States stick together, real progress can be made. Even in unpredictable times, repeating this close cooperation will allow us to continue advancing climate finance,” he said.
Meanwhile, the COP 31 Pre-COP meeting confirmed that it will be convened in Fiji in October 2026, with a special leaders’ component to be held in Tuvalu. This will build on a special climate event scheduled as part of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau in early September.
The Forum Family welcomes last year’s agreement between Australia and Türkiye that the Pacific would host the Pre-COP and a special leaders’ event ahead of the World Leaders’ Summit in November 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye.
By Jeremy Gwao
