Pacific Leaders, Including Kiribati, Urge UN for Urgent Climate Action, Fairer Finance, and End to Illegal Fishing

Leaders from Kiribati and other Pacific Island nations delivered a unified and urgent message to the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) in New York in September 2025, calling for immediate global action on climate change, fairer access to climate finance, and a decisive crackdown on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The addresses highlighted the existential threats faced by small island developing states and emphasized the need for multilateral cooperation to secure their future.

Urgent Climate Action and Resilience

Kiribati's President Taneti Maamau was a prominent voice, asserting that his nation 'refuses to be defined by rising seas' and possesses 'traditional and modern strategies to adapt and thrive'. He urged the international community to limit global warming to 1.5°C and to bolster support for frontline states through the Loss and Damage Fund. Kiribati is currently experiencing intensifying severe drought and coastal inundation, impacting homes, infrastructure, and food and water security. President Maamau welcomed the recent ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which affirmed the permanence of maritime zones despite climate change impacts, calling it 'firm hope and assurance that Kiribati and other vulnerable countries will continue to exist'.

Demands for Fairer Climate Finance

A critical theme across Pacific leaders' statements was the urgent need for increased and more accessible climate finance. President Maamau highlighted that the projected costs for adaptation have significantly risen, urging developed countries to provide funds beyond the pledges made in Paris. He also called for the recognition of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) to improve access to development support for small island states. The Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), a Pacific-owned and led funding mechanism, was presented as a crucial solution to bridge the climate finance gap, with Tonga, as host, calling it a 'Pacific-led mechanism'. Nauru's President David Adeang also noted that small island developing states still face 'unacceptable barriers to climate finance' despite numerous pledges.

Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing

The economic and environmental toll of illegal fishing was another significant concern raised by Pacific leaders. President Maamau estimated that IUU fishing costs Pacific nations over US$600 million annually, describing it as a 'moral and economic injustice' that could otherwise fund essential services like universal child healthcare. Other estimates placed the annual loss for Pacific nations at over US$1 billion. Leaders universally backed the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement (BBNJ), also known as the 'high seas treaty', which is set to become effective in 2026, as a vital tool for ocean governance and sustainable marine resource management.

A Unified Call for Multilateralism

The Pacific leaders, representing members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), presented the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and its first Implementation Plan (2023-2030) at the UNGA. This strategy delivers a unified call for climate justice, resilience, ocean stewardship, and multilateral reform. They stressed that the UN system must adapt to the 'Blue Pacific' and ensure that the voices and unique circumstances of Small Island Developing States are effectively supported within global policies and frameworks.