State Secretary Flasbarth: Island states play a key role in successful international climate policy
Ministers and high-level government representatives will meet in Fiji and Tuvalu from 5 to 8 October 2026. The conference will lay the political groundwork for the UN Climate Change Conference COP31 in Antalya in November. State Secretary Jochen Flasbarth will take part on behalf of Germany. The Australian COP31 President of Negotiations will lead the Pre-COP, together with strong Pacific leadership. Fiji and Tuvalu are hosts. Small island states are especially hard hit by the impacts of climate change. They have been drivers of committed international climate policy for a long time. This is why this year’s Pre-COP will also shine a spotlight on the climate policy perspectives and solutions of the Pacific island states.
State Secretary Jochen Flasbarth commented: "The Pre-COP is an important moment to explore and identify potential areas for political agreement in the run-up to the UN Climate Change Conference in Antalya. The fact that we are meeting in the Pacific region is highly symbolic. For many years, the Pacific island states have been champions of committed climate policy. Without the close alliance between Europe and the island states it would not have been possible to agree on the 1.5 degree target in Paris in 2015. When Europe, the island states and particularly vulnerable developing countries join forces at Climate Change Conferences it often leads to major progress. This is why this connection is so important to us and why I am here at this conference to reinforce it."
The goal of the conference is to explore political solutions for accelerated global climate action, improved access to climate finance, a fair energy transition and an enhanced role for oceans in achieving climate targets.
Germany has been working closely with the Pacific island states on international climate policy and ocean governance for many years. Together with the EU, Germany is calling for concrete outcomes at COP31 and stepped-up implementation of the Paris Agreement. This includes globally accelerated electrification - a priority for the Türkiye COP31 Presidency - and transitioning away from fossil fuels. The Pre-COP co-host Tuvalu will also host the second international conference on transitioning away from fossil fuels together with Ireland in July 2027.
Many Pacific island states depend heavily on imported fossil fuels, which exposes them to high and volatile energy prices. The current crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and its massive impacts on global energy markets clearly illustrate the vulnerability of island states that rely on fossil fuel imports. Not only are their energy costs rising rapidly, the prices of all imports and national debts are increasing too.
State Secretary Jochen Flasbarth commented: "Resolutely transitioning away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy and electrification is not just an investment in climate action; it is also an investment in our economic strength, security of supply and competitiveness. The sooner we achieve this, the better it is for the climate, our independence and positive economic development."
Background
The Pre-COP is traditionally held several weeks ahead of the annual Climate Change Conference. It brings together a select group of ministers and high-level government representatives. Its goal is to explore political solutions to unresolved issues and to prepare for the negotiations at the upcoming COP. COP31 will take place in Antalya, Türkiye in November 2026. Türkiye will host the Climate Change Conference as COP31 Presidency, Australia will lead the negotiations as the President of Negotiations. Türkiye and Australia are working together closely on preparing and hosting COP31.