PICAN responds to outcomes of the 54th Pacific Island Forum Leaders’ Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HONIARA, 13 September 2025 — Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN) welcomes key achievements of the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting, including the establishment of the Pacific Resilience Facility and the adoption of the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration. These are important steps towards resilience and justice for frontline Pacific communities.

At the same time, the Forum was overshadowed by Australia’s decision to approve the extension of the North West Shelf gas project until 2070. This single project will lock in over 4 billion tonnes of carbon pollution, threatening the 1.5 living limit and undermining Australia’s credibility as a Pacific partner at a critical time as they court the COP31 Presidency.

Rufino Varea, Director of PICAN, said: 

“The Pacific Resilience Facility and Ocean of Peace give us new tools to protect our future, but resilience cannot be built while Australia expands coal, oil and gas. If Australia wants to stand in real solidarity with the Pacific, it must stop fueling the crisis and join us in creating a fossil fuel free region.”

Rodrick Holness Rollands , Coordinator, Solomon Islands Climate Action Network (SICAN), said: 

“Communities in Solomon Islands live the climate crisis every day. We welcome the Pacific Resilience Facility, but its promise will only be realised if funds reach the grassroots directly. And we call on Australia to end fossil fuel expansion if it wants to be taken seriously as a partner in our survival.”

PICAN calls on all Forum partners to end fossil fuel expansion, guarantee direct community access to the Pacific Resilience Facility, and support a permanent ban on deep-sea mining.

Pacific survival depends on justice, solidarity and a fossil fuel free future.

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About PICAN

PICAN is a regional alliance of 190+ non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations, social movements and not-for-profit organisations from the Pacific Islands region working on various aspects of climate change, disaster risk and response and sustainable development.

Note to Editors

• Unofficial Final Draft of Leaders' Communique as approved by Leaders

• PICAN Analysis of 54PIFLM Outcomes

Media Contact:

Dylan Kava, Strategic Engagement and Communications Lead, PICAN

dylan.kava@pican.org | +679 9061989 (Manila / GMT+8)