The Fiji National University (FNU) and Monash University, through their Pacific Action for Climate Transitions (PACT) Research Centre, are bringing together Pacific leaders, climate finance experts, researchers, policymakers, investors and development partners to look at how the region can unlock greater investment to protect its natural resources and build a more resilient future.
The high-level Pre-COP event, under the theme “Investing in Natural Capital: The Pacific Opportunity,” will be held on Monday 5 October at the Hilton in Nadi, ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31).
The event will explore how the Pacific can make greater use of the value of its natural assets, including forests, mangroves, reefs, and oceans, to attract climate finance, while ensuring that the communities who care for and depend on these resources, also benefit.
For Pacific communities, climate change is not a distant concern. It is already affecting homes, livelihoods, food security, coastlines, and the natural resources people depend on, every day.
Yet Pacific countries continue to face challenges in accessing the finance needed, to respond to these impacts and build more resilient communities.
The Pre-COP gathering will provide an opportunity for Pacific voices to help shape the conversations leading into COP31 and, importantly, to look at practical ways to turn climate finance into meaningful opportunities for Pacific communities.
Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba
FNU Vice-Chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba said the initiative reflected the University’s responsibility to work with partners to address challenges facing the Pacific.
“The Pacific has long protected ecosystems that provide benefits not only to our communities, but to the world. Yet too often, the people who have safeguarded these natural resources, receive little recognition or investment for their stewardship,” Professor Nabobo-Baba said.
The Vice-Chancellor added that bringing the right people together, was an important step towards finding practical solutions.
“This event provides an opportunity to bring together Pacific leaders, researchers, investors and development partners to explore practical pathways for unlocking climate finance that supports our people, strengthens our institutions and empowers Pacific-led climate action,” she added.
Professor Nabobo-Baba said FNU, through the PACT Research Centre, wanted to see research translate into real benefits for people across the Pacific.
“As Fiji’s national university, we have an important responsibility to generate knowledge, build local capability, and help create the partnerships needed to address the climate challenges facing our region. This gathering reflects our commitment to ensuring Pacific voices are not only heard but help shape the global climate agenda,” Professor Nabobo-Baba further stated.
The programme will explore natural capital investment, climate finance, ecosystem services, sustainable forestry, blue economy opportunities, and ways to improve access to international funding for Pacific countries.
It will also bring together representatives from climate funds, international financial institutions, governments, academia, and the private sector to share ideas and identify practical opportunities for investment and climate action.
A key outcome of the event is expected to be a regional ‘Call to Action’, which will highlight Pacific priorities and contribute to discussions ahead of COP31.
The ‘Call to Action’ will seek greater investment in Pacific climate priorities and stronger recognition of the value of the region’s natural resources as part of its long-term development and resilience.
Monash University’s Professor Paul Dargusch, Director of PACT, highlighted that the Pacific had an opportunity to show the world that, protecting nature and supporting communities could go hand in hand.
Professor Paul Dargusch
“The Pacific is custodian of natural assets of enormous local and global value. The challenge now is to develop the investment models, institutions and project pipelines that can translate that natural capital into finance at a scale that supports restoration, strengthens livelihoods, and delivers lasting benefits to Pacific communities,” Professor Dargusch said.
Professor Dargusch added that the gathering would focus on finding practical answers, rather than simply discussing the challenges.
“Through this gathering, we want to bring governments, communities, researchers, climate funds and investors together around a practical question, which is what needs to change to unlock large-scale investment in the Pacific’s natural capital, while ensuring that Pacific countries and communities remain at the centre of how that investment is designed and delivered,” he reiterated.
The Pre-COP event builds on the partnership between FNU and Monash University through the Pacific Action for Climate Transitions Research Centre, which supports Pacific-led climate research, strengthens local capability and works to improve access to climate finance across the region.
For FNU and Monash, the gathering is an opportunity to bring together knowledge, experience, and partnerships around a shared goal, which is helping Pacific communities access the investment they need, to protect what matters most and build a stronger, more resilient future.