Highlights and images for 29 August 2025

A Fijian cultural ceremony of welcome—featuring dance, song, and symbolic gifts of mats made from local materials—reminded ministers and delegates that this first meeting of the Forum to convene in the Pacific was both symbolic and urgent. Manoa Kamikamica, Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) & Communications, called attention to the lived realities of the region. “The fight for climate justice is not theoretical,” he said. “It is the preservation of our identity.” He noted recent decisions in environmental governance which have recognized anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs) as pollutants of the marine environment and the legal obligations of States to protect the climate system.

Ministers and senior officials at the meeting sought to build momentum for action, leveraging off of these recent developments. Delegates elected Mosese Bulitavu, Fiji’s Environment Minister as Chair, and Thoriq Ibrahim, Minister of Environment, Maldives, and Rasio Ridho Sani, Deputy Minister of Environment, Indonesia, as Vice Chairs. They then launched into substantive discussions on the challenges ahead.

In the morning, a ‘Ministerial Dialogue on advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet in Asia and the Pacific’ took place. Many SIDS stressed the urgency for action on addressing sea-level rise. The Philippines noted that 63% of regional GDP for the Asia-Pacific (USD 90 trillion) is at risk due to nature loss and climate change. Several South Asian nations called for equal attention and international financing for both mitigation and adaptation, noting that adaptation is under funded.

Many countries urged making progress towards a plastics treaty. Tuvalu, the Cook Islands and Mongolia requested a resumption and conclusion of negotiations by the end of the year. Japan and the Republic of Korea called for increasing momentum through the UNEA-7 Ministerial Declaration. Sri Lanka proposed establishing a regional collaboration and monitoring arrangement to address marine plastic pollution to strengthen legal frameworks and bring in financing and technology.

Two side events took place at mid-day, on climate early warning systems (EWS) for resilience, and on catalyzing marine and coastal conservation as part of the ocean agenda.

In the afternoon, delegates launched into a multistakeholder dialogue about partnerships, highlighting examples of how partnerships have successfully built momentum for change. IUCN, for example, noted the BBNJ Agreement stemmed from the work of a high-ambition coalition for a high seas treaty and is almost ready to enter into force.

Hanna Helsingen, WWF Pacific, described her organization’s work in protecting “blue corridors” to protect whale and turtle migration routes, and called for a moratorium on deep sea mining, referring to the Ocean as “our greatest partnership.” Dirk Wagener, UN Resident Coordinator, Fiji Multi-Country Office, highlighted successes of multistakeholder cooperation, such as French Polynesia’s creation of the world’s largest marine reserve in 2025. Sangmin Nam, Director, Environment and Development Division, UN ESCAP, pointed to successes in renewable energy generation and action on air pollution. He invited countries’ cooperation to scale up a regional partnership for nature-based solutions.

Speaking on behalf of Major Groups and Stakeholders, Ajay Jha, Director, Centre for Community Economics and Development Consultants, cautioned that “multistakeholderism” may provide undue access to decision-making processes for corporations, while failing to provide corresponding benefits for LDCs. Fiji suggested that “inclusive multilateralism” can empower local actors by moving beyond consultations to co-design approaches.

Delegates also discussed the role of subregional organizations in accelerating sustainable solutions, which Bhutan called “the translators of global commitments into actions.”

At the close of the day, delegates endorsed the Chair’s Summary. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Deputy Executive Director, UNEP, expressed appreciation to all delegates, participants, and organizers, stating that the meeting had been remarkable for the unprecedented participation from Pacific countries as well as from around the region, which she said had been an invaluable contribution to this milestone on the way to UNEA-7.

Bulitavu said the Forum had demonstrated “a true spirit of cooperation” and looked forward to delegates’ continued engagement in strengthening the regional environmental agenda. He closed the Forum at 7.23 pm.