Australia Commits $100 Million to Pacific Climate Fund as Leaders Declare Ocean of Peace
Prime Minister announces major climate initiative at Pacific Island Forum while pursuing security treaty upgrade with Fiji
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Australia will contribute $100 million to establish a new Pacific Resilience Facility, while Pacific leaders prepare to declare the Blue Pacific "an ocean of peace" during the Pacific Island Forum summit in the Solomon Islands.
The climate funding commitment represents a significant escalation in Australia's Pacific engagement as the region faces what Albanese described as existential threats from rising sea levels and extreme weather events.
"By signing the treaty to establish the Pacific Resilience Facility, we will affirm our commitment to be backing in the Pacific-led solutions to climate change impacts," Albanese said during a press conference in Honiara. "This is more than a fund, though. It's a promise to Pacific communities that they will not face climate threats alone."
The announcement comes as Albanese participates in his fourth Pacific Island Forum meeting, emphasizing Australia's renewed focus on regional relationships amid what he called "strategic competition in our region."
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Blue Pacific Peace Declaration
Pacific leaders will also declare the Blue Pacific as an ocean of peace, an initiative led by Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rambuka that calls on the international community to respect national sovereignty and Pacific-led approaches to peace and security.
"Peace is not a gift and it is never a given," Albanese said. "The Pacific has long understood the importance of working together to respond to challenges that don't respect national boundaries."
The peace declaration comes as regional tensions continue over security arrangements, with several Pacific nations navigating relationships between traditional partners like Australia and emerging powers including China.
Security Treaty Upgrade with Fiji
Albanese revealed he held successful bilateral discussions with Rambuka about upgrading their relationship from the current Vuvale partnership to a full security treaty, marking a significant enhancement in bilateral ties.
"When we met in Fiji we spoke about upgrading the Vuvale relationship that we have to a security treaty," Albanese said. "After our discussion in Newcastle, Prime Minister Rambuka has written to me and we've responded positively and tasked our officials to see about that upgrade."
The proposed security agreement would include increased interoperability between defense forces, expanded training programs under the Pacific Policing Initiative, and enhanced engagement between military forces.
"Preliminary discussions have been about increased security agreements or upgrade in our security relationship, range from increased interoperability, the sort of training that we're seeing with the Pacific Policing Initiative being expanded to increased engagement between our defence forces," Albanese said.
He described Rambuka as "a good friend of Australia" and "a significant leader" in the Pacific region, emphasizing personal relationships as crucial to diplomatic progress.
COP31 Hosting Competition
Australia faces competition from Turkey to host the COP31 climate summit, with Albanese defending the joint Australia-Pacific bid as representing the region most adversely affected by climate change.
"We of course argue, together with the Pacific, that strongly supports the joint Australia-Pacific bid that this is a part of the world that is really impacted most adversely, I think there's an argument, by climate change," Albanese said.
He noted that without resolution of the hosting dispute, the summit would default to Bonn, Germany, calling that "an unfortunate outcome." Pacific leaders have indicated universal support for the Australia-Pacific bid during plenary sessions.
"Countries like Tuvalu and Kiribati, their very existence is threatened by climate change and it's appropriate given particularly the context of where the last few COPs have been held, that it be held in our region," Albanese said.
Climate Action Credibility
When pressed about Australia's climate targets and fossil fuel policies, Albanese emphasized that climate action serves as an "entry fee" to credibility in the Pacific region.
"We'll, of course, take action on climate change. It is the key to credibility. It's the entry fee, if you like, to credibility in the Pacific," he said.
Albanese confirmed the government will await advice from the Climate Change Authority before setting new emissions targets, emphasizing the need for achievable goals that account for energy reliability during the transition.
"We want to make a decision that is achievable as well, and that takes into account the need for energy reliability, of course, and transition of a target that is achievable," he said.
China Absence from Summit
The Solomon Islands chose not to allow observer nations at this year's forum, meaning China was absent from proceedings for the first time in recent years.
"The Solomon Islands chose to not allow that this time around. That's not a decision that we supported in terms of partners. We supported the status quo, but that was the decision for the Solomons," Albanese said.
The decision reflects ongoing tensions over Chinese influence in the Pacific, particularly following Solomon Islands' security agreement with Beijing in 2022.
Vanuatu Agreement Progress
Albanese expressed optimism about finalizing the delayed Nakamal Treaty with Vanuatu, citing positive discussions with Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas and his Council of Ministers.
"Vanuatu has a different system of government. The government there, there are five parties that are parties of government. What that does is mean that the decisions that I make on behalf of the Labor government in conjunction with my cabinet and my colleagues, that's one process. They have five they have to go through," Albanese explained.
He emphasized the complexity of Vanuatu's coalition government structure while maintaining confidence the agreement would be completed.
"The Prime Minister was very positive, Prime Minister Napat. He, of course, travelled with me here this morning as well. All of the ministers that I spoke with were all very positive about the agreement," Albanese said.
Torres Strait Climate Impacts
Responding to questions about Torres Strait climate challenges, Albanese acknowledged the direct impacts on low-lying Australian territories and coastal areas.
"In the Torres Strait, of course, it's directly impacted by climate change, like a number of low-lying areas in Australia," he said, noting increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.
He cited recent examples including cyclones off northern New South Wales and the Gold Coast, and algal blooms in South Australia directly linked to warming water temperatures.
"You can't say that any particular weather event is just because of climate change, because Australia has always had extreme weather events. But the science told us we would have more of them and they would be more intense. And that's precisely what is playing out," Albanese said.
Israel-Qatar Response
Albanese briefly condemned Israel's overnight strike on Qatar, aligning with US concerns about sovereignty violations and ceasefire risks.
"The United States has made its position clear and I think they have raised the issue that this violates Qatar's sovereignty and it risks the ceasefire," he said. "I want to see peace in that region. I don't want to see an escalation."
Regional Investment Strategy
The Prime Minister emphasized Australia's broader Pacific investment strategy, arguing that regional security and prosperity benefit Australia's economy and security.
"Investing in the security and prosperity of our Pacific neighbours helps make our region safer and helps make our economy stronger," Albanese said. "In a time of strategic competition in our region, Australia's engagement in the Pacific Island Forum matters more than ever."
He highlighted Australia's contribution to infrastructure, regional security and climate action as essential elements of the partnership approach.
Pacific Family Approach
Albanese defended Australia's diplomatic approach against suggestions of regional divisions, emphasizing the importance of family-style relationships and consistent engagement.
"The Pacific family values the fact that we are family and that we need to look after each other's interests and we need to engage constructively, that's certainly what I do," he said.
The comments came in response to suggestions from New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters about potential splits within the Pacific Island Forum.
Global Climate Responsibility
When questioned about the value of Australian climate spending given the country's relatively small global emissions contribution, Albanese argued for collective international action.
"The people who argue, some people who argue we shouldn't do anything on climate change because Australia doesn't represent 100% of global emissions and therefore we shouldn't do anything. There's a contradiction there," he said.
"We need to be, not just, take action ourselves, we need to encourage positive actions for others as well. And in the Pacific, we need to provide support for our Pacific family members."
World War II Legacy
Albanese noted the enduring impact of World War II in the Pacific region, with unexploded ordnance still being dealt with in the Solomon Islands decades later.
"Here in the Solomons, of course, we're still dealing with the consequences of World War II with some ordinances and those issues still being dealt with all these decades later," he said.
The Pacific Island Forum continues through the week, with further announcements expected on regional security partnerships and climate initiatives. Albanese indicated more details about Papua New Guinea relationships would be revealed next week following his return to Australia.
The $100 million Pacific Resilience Facility contribution represents one of Australia's largest single climate commitments to the region, demonstrating the government's priority on Pacific relationships amid growing regional competition.
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