Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Pacific Nations Urge Stronger Action to Defend 1.5-Degree Climate Goal
Officials from Pacific nations and other countries met in Fiji to discuss climate change.
They want governments to cut pollution faster and keep warming as close as possible to 1.5 degrees.
Fiji’s climate minister said the world should not quietly give up on that goal, even though it may be passed.
Pacific leaders adopted a declaration asking for deep and lasting cuts in emissions.
They also want better access to climate funding and more protection for oceans.
A United Nations official said the world is likely to go above the temperature target.
The official warned that spending more time above it could raise sea levels further.
Pacific communities are already dealing with rising tides, damaged reefs and villages that have had to move.
Delegates at pre-COP ministerial talks in Fiji urged governments to increase emissions cuts and limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Fiji climate minister Lynda Tabuya described the target as a primary legal obligation, despite projections that it will be exceeded.
Representatives from around 30 nations adopted the Taku Pakasoa declaration, calling for deep, rapid and sustained emissions reductions.
Pacific priorities include improved access to climate finance and ocean protection; officials also highlighted the region’s exposure to rising seas and extreme weather.
A UN Environment Programme official said overshoot was unavoidable and estimated each additional century above 1.5 degrees could add around 40 centimetres of median sea-level rise by 2300.
- Who
- Pacific leaders and climate delegates from around 30 nations, alongside representatives from more than 50 countries at the ministerial talks; officials included Lynda Tabuya, Dechen Tsering and Murat Kurum.
- What
- Delegates discussed Pacific priorities for climate negotiations and called for stronger emissions cuts to uphold the 1.5-degree warming target.
- When
- The ministerial talks began on Wednesday, October 7; the declaration was adopted on Tuesday. The year is not stated.
- Where
- Fiji, including the city of Nadi; the leaders had also visited Tuvalu.
- Why
- Pacific nations are seeking to limit climate impacts, including rising seas and extreme weather, and to secure priorities such as climate finance access and ocean protection.
Uphold the 1.5-Degree Goal
Overshoot Is Considered Unavoidable
Whether the target can still be defended
Uphold the 1.5-Degree Goal
Fiji climate minister Lynda Tabuya said keeping the 1.5-degree target alive is a primary legal obligation and called for greater emissions-reduction efforts.
Overshoot Is Considered Unavoidable
UN Environment Programme official Dechen Tsering said exceeding the target and significant environmental damage were now unavoidable, while warning that longer overshoot would add to sea-level rise.
How to approach overshoot at COP31
Uphold the 1.5-Degree Goal
Pacific leaders called for deep, rapid and sustained emissions reductions, and COP31 president Murat Kurum said limiting overshoot was the summit’s clear common goal.
Overshoot Is Considered Unavoidable
Tsering cautioned that the temperature target would be exceeded, emphasizing that Pacific risks would continue beyond the temperature peak.
- Meeting
- Pre-COP ministerial negotiations in Fiji, ahead of COP31
- Participants
- More than 50 countries were represented at the ministerial talks; representatives from around 30 nations gathered for the declaration
- Temperature goal
- Limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels
- Declaration
- Taku Pakasoa, adopted by representatives from around 30 nations
- Declaration call
- Deep, rapid and sustained emissions reductions
- COP31
- Scheduled for November in Turkey; Turkey is hosting and Australia is leading the negotiations
- Sea-level estimate
- A UN Environment Programme official said each additional 100 years above 1.5 degrees could commit the world to around 40 centimetres of additional median sea-level rise by 2300, compared with a pathway without overshoot