Essay by Eric Worrall
Only two world leaders from outside the Pacific Region showed up, but those who did show up were really enthusiastic.
Pacific pre-COP a ‘flop’? Australia faces backlash over leaders’ no-show
TCW Report
October 11, 2026Pacific leaders used the Tuvalu meetings to press for faster emissions cuts, easier climate finance and stronger adaptation support despite criticism over the absence of major foreign leaders.
Only two leaders from outside the Pacific attend Tuvalu gathering, but climate finance pledges and regional declaration offer fresh momentum ahead of COP31 in Türkiye.
Australia’s ambitious attempt to bring world leaders face-to-face with the Pacific climate crisis has come under scrutiny after only two leaders from outside the region attended a high-profile gathering in Tuvalu, raising questions over Canberra’s diplomatic expectations ahead of COP31 in Türkiye.
Despite the disappointing leadership turnout, Pacific nations have defended the initiative, pointing to fresh climate finance commitments and a regional declaration aimed at strengthening international action on emissions, adaptation and ocean protection.
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However, the limited participation of foreign heads of state and government has prompted criticism of Australia’s diplomatic strategy and questions about the effectiveness of its high-profile climate gathering.
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Read more: https://theclimatewatch.com/pacific-pre-cop-a-flop-australia-faces-backlash-over-leaders-no-show/
I couldn’t be bothered reading through all the spin, so I asked Claude to analyse what financial commitments were made during the conference.
What finance commitments were agreed in the recent pre-COP Fiji climate conference?
… Seriously Claude if I wanted to read spin I would have searched for the press release …
Can you create a shorter summary of what financial commitments were agreed?
Here’s the short version. No formal agreement was reached, since the Pre-COP doesn’t adopt decisions. The new pledges were:
- About US$15 million to the Pacific Resilience Facility from Fiji, Ireland and others. Fiji’s share is US$10 million. The fund is still well short of its US$500 million target.
- A$3 million from Australia for Pacific climate resilience.
- Australia’s Access to Finance Statement and Action Plan, which aims to cut the red tape that slows money reaching vulnerable communities.
- Fiji’s five-year carbon market plan, designed to attract international climate finance.
The bigger pledging push for the fund is expected at COP31 in Antalya next month.
Source: https://claude.ai/chat/4269eded-a6b7-4dd1-84bb-7577f69b1f9c
In other words, even by the most optimistic reading of the event outcome, the money raised was less than the cost of staging the event. They would have been better just donating the $20 million event cost straight into the Pacific leader slush fund Pacific climate resilience facility.
Still we won’t have too long to mourn this waste of taxpayer funds. While the USA will almost certainly be a no-show at COP31, unless you count California’s constitutionally questionable efforts to provide a stand-in team, political blocks like the EU and maybe even China will likely fling some cash around to keep the party going. Or at least promises of future cash.
