Pacific Youth Climate Statement: From Our Islands to the World
The Pacific Youth Climate Statement: From Our Islands to the World – Oceania’s Youth Charting the Course to COP31 is a regional outcome of the Regional Conference of Youth (RCOY) Oceania 2026, held in Suva, Fiji, from 18–20 August 2026.
The Statement brings together the perspectives, priorities and aspirations of young people from across Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia and the Pacific diaspora. It reflects a regional youth process shaped through dialogue, deliberation, amendment and negotiation, and provides a collective contribution to the climate discussions that will continue towards COP31 and beyond.
For Pacific communities, climate change is not an issue confined to international negotiations. It is closely connected to the ocean, food and water security, health, livelihoods, culture, mobility, sovereignty and the ability of communities to remain connected to their lands and identities. These realities are reflected throughout the Statement, alongside the knowledge and experiences of young people who are already witnessing and responding to these challenges within their communities.
The Statement sets out a number of shared priorities, including keeping the 1.5°C threshold within reach, strengthening climate finance and ensuring that it reaches communities, protecting the Pacific Ocean and its biodiversity, advancing locally led adaptation, addressing climate-related health impacts, protecting Indigenous and traditional knowledge, and ensuring that young people have meaningful opportunities to participate in decision-making.
It also places particular emphasis on the principle that “nothing about our futures without us.” For Pacific youth, meaningful participation extends beyond being present in consultations or international spaces. It calls for young people to have access to information, resources, representation and decision-making spaces, and to be recognised as partners in shaping the policies and solutions that will define the region’s future.
Importantly, the Statement reflects a Pacific understanding of climate action that is rooted in interconnectedness. Climate, ocean, health, culture, human rights, gender equality, technology, development and peace cannot be addressed in isolation. For communities across the Blue Pacific, these issues are deeply interconnected and require responses that are locally grounded while informed by regional solidarity and global responsibility.
As a co-convener of RCOY Oceania 2026, the AFG recognises the collective work of the young people, co-conveners, partners and organisations who contributed to the process. The Statement belongs to the wider Pacific youth movement and reflects the diverse experiences, knowledge and priorities brought into the regional dialogue.
The Statement is intended to serve as more than a contribution to the COP31 process. It provides a platform for continued advocacy, policy engagement, research, community dialogue and engagement with decision-makers across the Pacific and internationally.
The voices captured in this Statement are voices shaped by the realities of our islands, our ocean and our communities. As the climate conversation moves forward, the priorities and perspectives of Pacific youth must remain part of that conversation—not only as participants, but as partners in shaping the future of the Blue Pacific.
The full Pacific Youth Climate Statement is available below.
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