Region: Climate adaptation funding likely to remain below expected needs following Pre-COP 31

On 7 October during the Pre-COP 31 meeting in Fiji, Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, announced a Climate Infrastructure for Resilient Coastlines and Riverbanks programme covering four Pacific countries. Projects include resilience measures for a highway in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, the Kings and Queens Roads in Fiji, the East Micronesia Cable landing site in Kiribati, and the VAKA undersea telecommunications cable landing site in Tuvalu. Separately, Fiji, Denmark, Solomon Islands, the UK, the Netherlands, and Ireland announced pledges to the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF). The PRF was opened in May 2026 and aims to raise AUD$714 million as more accessible funding for smaller community-level climate adaptation projects, addressing difficulties Pacific countries face accessing international climate finance. Around 6 October, Solomon Islands PM Matthew Wale called for major emitters, including the G7, G20, and BRICS countries, to take greater responsibility for emissions through stronger action on fossil fuel subsidies and investment.

Assessment: Despite these commitments, the PRF remains approximately AUD$456 million short of its initial AUD$714 million capitalisation target (USD$500 million). Competing economic and energy priorities are very likely to continue to constrain efforts to secure stronger PRF commitments from major economies.

Sources: “Australia commits $3m to upgrade Kings and Queens Roads,” Fiji One, 7 October 2026; Nikhil Aiyush Kumar, “Australia pledges $3 million for roads,” FBC, 7 October 2026; Charles Stennett, “PM Wale calls for major emitters to take greater climate responsibility,” Island Sun, 7 October 2026