Pacific leaders urged to protect climate governance from fossil fuel influence
We, the Transparency International Pacific Chapters, call on Pacific Forum Leaders ahead of the regional meeting in Palau to strengthen the integrity of climate governance and reaffirm the Pacific’s leadership in advancing transparency, fairness and inclusivity of climate processes to deliver meaningful climate action and climate justice. Pacific’s approach towards tangible climate action is built on credibility, moral leadership and an unwavering commitment to protect people and future generations. As Pacific countries prepare for the pre-COP and other key milestones on the road to the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31), the region has a unique opportunity to demonstrate strong climate leadership ensuring that climate decision-making is guided by integrity, transparency and accountability.
Pacific Leaders have already recognised these principles through the Teieniwa Vision, the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, the Boe Declaration and commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) resolution for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The challenge now is to turn these commitments into action within regional and global climate governance to reiterate the message endorsed during the April 2026 Tassiriki Call for a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific, for stronger integrity safeguards within global climate processes, addressing undue influence and conflict-of-interest rules.
A Pacific voice for integrity in climate governance
Pacific countries, on the frontline of the climate crisis, have led efforts to secure just multilateral climate solutions for decades. This responsibility has become increasingly urgent as climate impacts increase in intensity. Recent COP negotiations have highlighted growing concerns about undue influence in international climate decision-making, in ways that water down ambitions or delay action. At COP30 in Belém, 54 per cent of participants in national delegations either did not disclose the type of affiliation they have or selected a vague category such as “Guest” or “Other”.
These developments raise an important question: who is shaping climate decisions that determine the future of our communities already facing the impacts of climate change?
For Pacific nations, the stakes are too high to allow vested private interests to weaken or delay action while our communities continue to bear the consequences. A clear message from Pacific Leaders addressing the integrity gap can strengthen trust in the COP process.
During the gathering of leaders in Palau, ahead of COP31, we urge the Pacific leaders to champion stronger integrity safeguards within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process, consistent with the values of justice, integrity and public interest that the Pacific has long championed.
We urge Pacific Forum Leaders to:
- Champion integrity safeguards for climate, including through a code of conduct for delegates of pre-COP and COP31.
- Call on Australia to lead on integrity for COP31, including the early establishment of an independent ethics committee to oversee integrity conversations and measures. Commit to a set of integrity measures for stronger transparency and accountability during the upcoming pre-COP and COP31, including a follow up to the Bonn Open Dialogue.
- Demand disclosure of ties to fossil fuel and other high-polluting industries by participants in pre-COP and Leaders’ Summit meetings.
We believe Pacific Leaders have both the moral authority and the responsibility to champion these reforms within the UNFCCC at a time when public trust in climate negotiations is under increasing pressure. The future of the Blue Pacific depends not only on climate ambition, but on the integrity of the systems that deliver it.
Transparency International Pacific Chapters
Transparency International Australia
Transparency & Integrity Fiji
Transparency International New Zealand
Transparency International Papua New Guinea
Transparency Solomon Islands
Transparency International Vanuatu