Strengthening climate cooperation with the Pacific

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen will visit Suva, Fiji, this week to meet with Pacific Climate Ministers to discuss strengthened cooperation on climate action and ensuring the region can maximise the opportunities of the clean energy transformation.

Australia is a part of the Pacific family, and we understand the impact climate change is having on our region. The Albanese Labor Government is delivering real action on climate change, including being part of the global solution.

Minister Bowen will meet with government, academic and energy sector representatives to discuss how Australia and the Pacific can work together to accelerate the renewable energy transition, including regional opportunities for hydrogen, as well as strengthening climate resilience and combating water scarcity.

Minister Bowen will convene a Pacific Climate Change Ministers Roundtable on 23 August, after attending the UNFCCC Pacific Regional High-Level Dialogue on 21–22 August, to begin developing a shared approach to international climate engagement with Pacific counterparts.

These meetings are an important step towards advancing collaboration with our Pacific partners to accelerate the energy transformation and amplify Pacific voices in the international arena.

Australia’s bid for the Pacific to co-host COP31 will also be a topic of discussion, with a strong focus on maximising opportunities for the entire region.

Together, we can work with our Pacific partners and key stakeholders to forge a path towards addressing the challenges and meeting the opportunities that climate change presents for Australia and the broader Pacific.

Minister Bowen said collaboration and continued dialogue with Australia’s Pacific partners would help advance meaningful cooperation on climate change.

“Our government is committed to working with our Pacific neighbours to strengthen climate action and accelerate the clean energy transformation across our region and around the world,” Minister Bowen said.

“I look forward to meeting with my Pacific counterparts to understand their priorities and further discuss how we can work together to elevate Pacific voices among major global partners.”

Minister Plibersek will be acting Minister for Climate Change and Energy.