AGP Executive Report

Fisheries: A strong El Niño could shift tuna grounds and catch rates across the Pacific through 2027. Warmer seas may also bring flooding to parts of Tuvalu, adding pressure on fishing livelihoods and food supplies. Household Costs: Pacific governments are using social protection and fuel or transport subsidies to cushion households from rising oil prices, which push up freight and the cost of goods in outer islands. Climate Infrastructure: Tuvalu has secured a US$36 million Green Climate Fund grant for coastal adaptation; further project phases aim to reclaim about 20 hectares. Papua New Guinea has also pledged K25 million for Tuvalu’s land-reclamation work. Disaster Cover: Tuvalu has joined the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company as its 13th member, securing cyclone coverage.

Cyclone Insurance: Tuvalu has joined the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company as its 13th member, securing cyclone coverage and strengthening financial protection against disasters. Coastal Resilience: A US$36 million Green Climate Fund grant is supporting Tuvalu’s coastal adaptation, while Papua New Guinea pledged 25 million kina toward Tuvalu’s land-reclamation work. The projects could protect communities and infrastructure while creating local work. Economic Resilience: Prime Minister Feleti Teo says Tuvalu needs an economy better able to withstand external shocks, underscoring the need to pair climate protection with stronger, more reliable livelihoods.

Climate Resilience: Tuvalu has joined the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company as its 13th member, securing cyclone coverage. Coastal Infrastructure: Papua New Guinea pledged 25 million kina to support Tuvalu’s land-reclamation work; the Green Climate Fund-backed coastal adaptation project is set to expand by about 20 hectares across two phases. Clean Energy: Australia announced a A$7.29 million renewable-energy package for the Pacific, including support for regional energy projects and solar-powered schools.

Coastal Resilience: Papua New Guinea has committed K5 million a year for five years — K25 million in total — to Tuvalu’s climate adaptation and land-reclamation work. The first payment has been transferred. A Green Climate Fund-backed project is also set to reclaim about 20 hectares, strengthening protection for communities and infrastructure. Cyclone Cover: Tuvalu has joined the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company as its 13th member, securing cyclone coverage and support for recovery costs. Clean Energy and Finance: Pacific climate talks put renewable energy and faster access to grants on the agenda for COP31. Australia announced a AUD$7.29 million regional clean-energy package and AUD$3 million for infrastructure protection; a further US$300 million in Pacific climate funding may go before the Green Climate Fund board.

Coastal Resilience: Tuvalu’s adaptation programme is gaining backing: Papua New Guinea has transferred its first K5 million instalment in a five-year commitment for coastal protection and land reclamation, while a Green Climate Fund grant of US$36 million supports coastal work. Climate Finance: Pacific leaders are pressing for faster, easier-to-access funding, with the Green Climate Fund preparing a further US$300 million in regional projects for board consideration. Risk Protection: Tuvalu has joined the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company as its 13th member, securing cyclone coverage. Clean Energy: Pacific ministers are weighing a regional roadmap to reduce reliance on costly fossil-fuel imports and expand renewable power, a key issue for island economies.

COP31 Priorities: Pacific leaders ended the Fiji pre-summit urging faster climate finance, ocean protection and action to keep the 1.5°C goal within reach. Australia and Türkiye plan a proposed summit decision focused on measures including electrification, but Tuvalu’s priorities now need to translate into funding and projects. Tuvalu Resilience: Papua New Guinea has begun a five-year commitment of K5 million a year for Tuvalu’s climate adaptation and land reclamation. Tuvalu has also secured a US$36 million Green Climate Fund grant for coastal protection, with further land-reclamation work planned. Risk Protection: Tuvalu has joined the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company as its 13th member, gaining cyclone coverage. Clean Energy: Pre-COP announcements included new Pacific renewable-energy support, part of a wider push for reliable power and stronger community resilience.

Disaster Insurance: Tuvalu has joined the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company as its 13th member, securing cyclone coverage and adding financial protection against extreme weather. Coastal Resilience: Papua New Guinea will provide Tuvalu K5 million a year for five years for climate adaptation and land reclamation; the first payment has been transferred. Tuvalu has also secured a US$36 million Green Climate Fund grant for coastal adaptation. Regional Climate Finance: The Green Climate Fund says a further US$300 million for Pacific projects could go before its board this month, as island leaders press for quicker, easier funding. COP31 Priorities: Pacific leaders’ Taku Pakasoa Declaration calls for faster emissions cuts, stronger climate finance and protection for island communities, with Australia and Türkiye planning a presidency-led decision to advance climate action at the November summit.

Climate Finance: Tuvalu has secured a US$36 million Green Climate Fund grant for coastal adaptation, while a further US$300 million in Pacific financing is due before the fund’s board. The grant builds on coastal works that have helped protect Funafuti and will be extended to reclaim about 20 hectares. Regional Investment: Papua New Guinea is providing Tuvalu K5 million a year for five years for coastal defence and land reclamation, with the first instalment transferred. Fiji has pledged US$10 million to the Pacific Resilience Facility, and Australia announced renewable-energy support for the region. Industry Risk: Pacific governments could face investor lawsuits if they tighten deep-sea mining rules, experts warned at the pre-COP talks, potentially limiting future environmental protections for an untested industry.

Coastal Resilience: Papua New Guinea will provide Tuvalu K5 million a year for five years for climate adaptation and land reclamation. The first payment has reached Tuvalu’s treasury to support coastal defenses. Critical Infrastructure: Australia is investing A$3 million in resilient coastlines and riverbanks, including protection for Tuvalu’s VAKA undersea cable landing site. Climate Finance: At Pre-COP31, Pacific leaders urged faster, grant-based funding and practical delivery, warning that lengthy finance processes leave exposed communities waiting for protection. Renewable Energy: Remote and maritime schools are set to receive solar power through A$1 million in assistance.

Regional Climate Finance: Fiji committed US$10 million over five years to the Pacific Resilience Facility, while Australia pledged A$3 million for resilient coastlines and riverbanks, including projects in Tuvalu. Tuvalu’s Coastal Protection: Papua New Guinea pledged about US$5.5 million over five years for Tuvalu’s land reclamation and coastal defences, bringing practical investment to a country facing rapidly rising seas. Pre-COP31 Priorities: Pacific leaders urged world governments to deliver faster, grant-based climate funding and real emissions cuts, warning that pledges alone will not protect communities, infrastructure and livelihoods.

Climate Finance & Resilience: Fiji pledged US$10m over five years to the Pacific Resilience Facility, aiming to lift regional resilience capacity, while Australia also backed Tuvalu-linked coastal resilience via the Climate Infrastructure for Resilient Coastlines and Riverbanks project. Tuvalu Coastal Protection: PNG committed K25m over five years for Tuvalu coastal adaptation and land reclamation, with early funding already sent to support defence measures against sea-level rise. 1.5°C Push at Pre-COP31: Ministers and delegates in Fiji and Tuvalu urged urgent, deep emissions cuts to keep 1.5°C within reach, warning that overshoot is accelerating irreversible loss for vulnerable communities. Sea-Level Rise Legal Certainty: A landmark UN sea-level rise declaration was hailed for strengthening international stability and clarifying that statehood and maritime rights can continue even as coasts are threatened. Fossil Fuels Pressure: Pacific youth and advocates told Australia to stop approving coal and rejected “false solutions” like deep-sea mining, as leaders demanded faster climate finance and stronger fossil fuel phase-out commitments. Pacific Workforce Link: Japan’s labour shortage—especially in agriculture—was flagged as an opportunity for skilled Pacific workers, alongside concerns about immigration management.

Climate Finance & Adaptation: Pacific leaders toured Tuvalu’s Funafuti coastal works, then told the pre-COP31 in Fiji that global climate funding is too slow, too small, and comes with bad terms—despite rising seas, drought and stronger storms. Tuvalu Frontline Engineering: Papua New Guinea pledged K25 million over five years for Tuvalu coastal adaptation and land reclamation, including immediate K5 million budget transfers for local defence measures. Pacific Leadership at Pre-COP: Fiji’s return to the climate spotlight (nine years after hosting COP) and the Fiji–Australia–Tuvalu pre-COP agenda put 1.5°C, faster finance, oceans, and Pacific voice at the centre. Energy & Skills: Japan flagged labour shortages in agriculture and said skilled Pacific workers could find opportunities, while Australia pushed renewables support (including a $7.29m package) and solar for remote schools. Fossil Fuel Pressure: COP31 preparations in Fiji and Tuvalu drew renewed criticism of Australia’s coal and gas expansion, with advocates urging a clean energy shift and “no false solutions.” Maternal Heat Risk: UN climate chief Simon Stiell warned extreme heat is becoming a “faultline” for pregnant women and newborns, as health systems face mounting strain.

Tuvalu Pre-COP Leaders Event: Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal led Nepal’s delegation to Funafuti for the Pre-COP31 Leaders’ event, underscoring shared climate risks for mountain and small island states and meeting Tuvalu PM Feleti Teo during a visit to the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project. Pacific Pre-COP Push: Fiji and Australia opened the Pacific Pre-COP31 in Nadi with a blunt message: keep 1.5°C within reach, speed up climate finance, put the ocean at the centre, and amplify Pacific leadership—while Tuvalu’s ministers say outcomes must turn into action, not speeches. Climate Finance & Energy Security: Australia defended its taxpayer-funded diplomacy and announced $7.29m to accelerate Pacific renewables (including grid modelling and workforce support for Vanuatu), as Tuvalu PM Teo warned the country must build an economy resilient to fuel-price shocks and import dependence. Fossil Fuel Tensions: Faith leaders, Greenpeace and Amnesty urged Australia to back a fossil fuel phase-out and a just transition, with criticism growing as only a thin set of non-Pacific leaders confirmed attendance for the Tuvalu/Fiji programme. Health Impacts: UN climate chief Simon Stiell flagged extreme heat as a “new faultline” for pregnant women and newborns, launching research and the Birthright campaign at the Fiji talks. Climate Governance Red Lines: Pacific advocates set five demands for COP31—no false solutions, phase-out fossil fuels, reject forced extraction, protect the living planet, and avoid monetising non-economic loss and damage.

Pacific Pre-COP31 in Fiji and Tuvalu: More than 50 countries are meeting in Nadi as Pacific leaders push for keeping 1.5°C within reach, faster climate finance, and stronger ocean protection ahead of COP31 in Türkiye. Tuvalu frontline: Leaders are set to visit Tuvalu, where scientists say a 2024 marine heatwave wiped out about 99.9% of coral and rising seas are already swamping atolls. Climate finance and delivery: Fiji’s Lynda Tabuya says finance is not flowing fast enough and urges communities to share how long they’ve waited for seawalls, water systems and solar minigrids. Extreme heat and health: UN climate chief Simon Stiell warns extreme heat is becoming a “new faultline” for pregnant women and newborns. Energy transition pressure: Australia faces scrutiny over coal and fossil fuel expansion even as it announces renewable support, including a $7.29m package and a $1m solar push for remote schools. Who shows up: Critics say the guest list is thin, with only two non-Pacific leaders confirmed for Tuvalu. Local economic resilience: Tuvalu PM Feleti Teo calls for building an economy that can handle fuel price shocks and import dependence, including investment and consumer protection reforms.

Climate Diplomacy in the Pacific: Pre-COP31 is underway in Fiji and Tuvalu (5–8 Oct in Nadi; leaders’ day trips 5–6 Oct in Tuvalu) with Pacific ministers pushing to keep 1.5°C within reach, speed climate finance, and put the ocean at the centre of COP31 talks in Türkiye. Health and Heat Risk: UN climate chief Simon Stiell warned extreme heat is a “new faultline” for pregnancy and newborns, citing a survey where 73% of maternal health professionals reported rising heat-related complications. Energy Transition Support: Australia announced AUD$1m for solar power for remote and maritime schools via the It’s Time Foundation, alongside calls to replace fossil fuel demand with renewables. Fossil Fuel Pressure: Greenpeace and Amnesty urged governments to end fossil fuel expansion and deliver scaled-up, faster climate funding, targeting Australia’s “double talk” as coal mine expansion debates continue. Tuvalu’s Frontline Reality: Leaders are set to visit Tuvalu after scientists reported a 2024 marine heatwave wiped out about 99.9% of the coral that formed the islands, with rising seas already swamping atolls. Community Voices into Finance: Fiji’s Tabuya asked communities to share how long they’ve waited for seawalls, water systems and solar minigrids so their stories can shape finance talks.

Pacific Pre-COP31 in Fiji and Tuvalu: World leaders and ministers head to Nadi for Oct 5–8 talks, with a Tuvalu day trip to show sea-level impacts and push for faster, simpler climate finance, ocean protection, and keeping the 1.5°C goal alive. Tuvalu frontline reality: Scientists say a 2024 marine heatwave killed about 99.9% of the coral building Tuvalu’s atolls, while rising seas already swamp parts of the archipelago—turning the pre-COP visit into a stark on-the-ground warning. Australia under pressure: Australia and COP31 host Türkiye face criticism for hosting climate talks while staying tied to coal; Pacific leaders want action, not speeches, as Australia weighs approval for a major coal mine expansion. Climate cooperation angle: A Fiji-based scholar highlights Chinese support for renewable energy, EVs and training as practical climate governance help for Pacific adaptation and resilience. Health and resilience funding: WHO and partners unveil a $35.99m Pandemic Fund multi-country project for Western Pacific disease surveillance and response capacity. Culture and identity: Tuvalu Language Week in Aotearoa spotlights keeping te ‘Gana Tuvalu alive through songs and community events.