REMARKS: Welcome Remarks by Acting Secretary General, Esala Nayasi, at Pacific Island Countries Climate Change Ministerial Talanoa

• The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Finance and Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics for Fiji, Hon Biman  Prasad
• The PSIDS Chair, The Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology and Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Management of Vanuatu - Hon John Salong
• Honorable Ministers, and Heads of Delegation, Director General for SPREP and colleagues from our CROP Agencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Yadra vinaka and Good morning to you all. 

• I warmly welcome you all to this important High-Level Ministerial ‘Talanoa’ and thank each of you for your presence here today.  

I am Esala Nayasi, the Deputy Secretary General for PIFS and will be your moderator for this morning’s session and will be assisting DG Nawadra in facilitating today’s programme.

As we begin our day, let me also remind us that today, is also an important day for two of our member countries with their independence anniversaries both falling on this day - Tuvalu (46) and Palau (30).  I take this opportunity on all our behalf to congratulate them on their important milestones.

Hon Ministers and Heads of Delegation

Today’s ministerial talanoa is one of the three convenings we have for this week which brings together climate change ministers from Pacific Island Countries, Australia and New Zealand to discuss important issues concerning the COP 31 Presidency and our partnership as we advance our candidacy.

I realize that there’s been a number of discussions about the COP31 arrangements in different spaces including at our Leaders meeting, but today provides a unique opportunity for members to share your different views that will shape what the Pacific COP will look like as we continue to lobby for international support.  

This discussions will also help us strategize for COP29 this year given the priorities we have as a region which will lay the groundwork for COP31.  You will find that we also have an opportunity this afternoon to discuss COP29 priorities, which will be covered in our last session today.

In saying this, let me take this opportunity to thank Australia for its support and understanding in enabling this ministerial talanoa to take place and for its efforts to bring the Pacific together through this important COP platform.

The Pacific COP will surely bring an unparalleled chance that will allow us to amplify the unique climate challenges we face and push for global action that reflects the realities we live with every day.

Hon Ministers and Head of Delegation

For today’s opening session, we will hear from Hon Biman Prasad as our gracious host, Hon John Salong as PSIDS Chair and Director General Nawadra, who will be speaking on behalf of the One-CROP team.