'We are big ocean states': PIF rebukes critics over pre-COP attendance fixation

Pacific Islands Forum chair and Palau President, Surangel Whipps Jr, has delivered a sharp rebuke to Australian media and political commentators.

Whipps has rejected claims that the recent Pre-COP climate gathering in Fiji was a failure due to missing Western leaders.

Speaking at the Australian National University in Canberra, Whipps challenged the fixated focus on delegate counts and event costs.

He said island nations must be recognised for their massive environmental footprint and not dismissed as small players.

"Some have dismissed the gathering by counting the leaders who were absent... rather than recognising the significance of those who came," Whipps said.

"I read recently that all the big names were missing so let's talk about size for a moment. Pacific states are custodians of nearly 20 percent of our Earth's surface... an area larger than Russia, China, the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Australia, and India combined.

Palau President and Pacific Islands Forum Chair, Surangel Whipps Jr, urged Australian media to focus on climate outcomes rather than delegate attendance lists. Photo/Supplied

"There is nothing small about that. Humanity actually depends upon the blue Pacific for its food, climate stability and connectivity," Whipps added.

Addressing the absence of high-emitting nations at the Nadi talks, Whipps emphasised that the countries holding the greatest stake in ocean stewardship showed up in full force.

"It is true that some of the world's largest industrialised nations and its largest emitters and polluters were not present at this pre-COP but the big ocean states were," he noted.

Reinforcing the Pacific's unified stance, Tuvalu’s Climate Change Minister Dr Maina Talia backed the outcome of the meetings, confirming that over 30 international ministers engaged directly with low-lying island representatives.

Watch Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam speaking with PMN Tuvalu producer Fala Haulangi in Funafuti below.

But Talia expressed deep frustration over host nation Australia's domestic energy policies, warning that continued coal and gas approvals directly threaten island survival.

"More than 30 ministers were there representing their countries... we're very happy with the outcome of the pre-COP.

"We want to see that they will put a stop to opening new coal mines and gasses because that will definitely impact the lives of those living in small low-lying atolls.

"We want to keep 1.5 (degrees) alive for us to stay in our own countries," Talia said.

Addressing the estimated tens of millions spent on organising the regional talks, Whipps urged Australian critics to measure success not by attendance lists in Nadi, but by the concrete commitments secured at the upcoming COP31 talks in Turkey.

Tuvalu Climate Change Minister Dr Maina Talia warns that ongoing fossil fuel expansion threatens the survival of low-lying island nations across the Pacific. Photo/PMN News/John Pulu

"Here is how I would ask you to answer it: not by who was in the room, but by the result we collectively achieve at COP next month," Whipps said.

The Pre-COP31 Pacific Dialogue was held from 5-8 October in Fiji and Tuvalu ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Antalya, Türkiye, on 9-20 November.