Leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) have put up their hands to fully support Australia's bid to host the next climate change conference (COP31) meeting in 2026. 

Australia initially planned to host the COP30 meeting, according to the Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Henry Puna.

However, during the Leaders Special Retreat late last week in Denarau, Fiji the Leaders were updated by Australia that they are bidding to host the COP31 meeting in three years time. 

This according to Secretary-General Puna, is not just Australia's bid. 

"It will be Australia and Pacific Islands bid," Puna told the media. 

Mr. Puna is of the view that hosting COP31 would profile the impact of climate on the region, and provide the perfect opportunity to showcase what climate change has done to the Pacific to the rest of the world. 

Leaders welcomed the update by Australia on their bid to co-host COP31 in 2026 in partnership with the Pacific, and agreed to work together to advocate for the joint bid.

The incoming Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mark Brown, said the region fully supports Australia's bid. 

"I think the new Government of Australia has made a really strong commitment towards climate change and there bid to host COP31 is fully supported by forum members and we're looking at this particular meeting as a COP joint meeting for Australia and the Pacific," he.

Secretary-General Puna also confirmed that Australia has undertaken to convene a pre-COP so that we can agree on how Australia and the Pacific can host of the Climate Change Conference. 

Australia's ambition to host a COP meeting emerged with the Labor party federal government in May after nine years of a Liberal-National party coalition administration, which prioritised policies to support further exports of thermal coal and LNG, rather than addressing the issue of climate change.

Leaders during their meeting on Friday also recalled their endorsement of the Weather Ready Pacific Decadal Programme of Investment in 2021. The region continues to bear the human and economic cost of severe weather.

They also welcomed Australia’s initial AUD$30 million contribution to support, in partnership with the Pacific Meteorological Council, delivery of Weather Ready Pacific. This will enhance the region’s early warning systems and increasing resilience to climate change. 

Nevertheless, the leaders expressed support and condolences to the Government and people of New Zealand for the disastrous impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle, They said the extreme weather is a stark reminder of the real impacts of climate change and the growing frequency of natural disasters, as well as the importance of regional solidarity to collectively address these security threats.