'Come to the Pacific': Minister Wong joins Rabuka's climate appeal

Australia’s Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong yesterday backed Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s call for world leaders to attend October’s Pre-COP31 meeting.

She wants global leaders to witness climate change impacts on Pacific nations firsthand.

Speaking in Suva yesterday, Ms Wong said she agreed with Mr Rabuka’s comments made a day earlier, when he said it would be “a sad thing” if world leaders skipped the gathering in Nadi and Tuvalu.

“I saw the comments Prime Minister Rabuka made and I agree with him and I join with him in saying to the world, come to the Pacific and see for yourself the reality of climate change for Pacific Island nations,” Ms Wong said.

“Come to the Pacific and understand what this means for the people of the Pacific, for their livelihoods, for their culture, for their economies.”

Ms Wong did not directly answer questions on whether Australia was facing difficulties securing world leaders’ attendance, or whether any leaders had confirmed they would come, instead pointing to Australia’s long-standing work with Pacific nations.

“As Australia’s first climate minister, I understood very early on how important it was to work with Pacific nations to elevate your experience and your voices,” she said.

Mr Rabuka commended Ms Wong in rallying behind his call.

“Great minds think alike,” Mr Rabuka said.

Fiji and Tuvalu will jointly host the Pre-COP31 meeting from October 5–8, ahead of COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, in November.