Ministers and senior officials from Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) will gather in Port Vila from April 13–15 for the third Pacific Ministerial Dialogue on the Global Just Transition—an increasingly pivotal meeting set to shape a unified regional stance ahead of the world’s first international conference focused on phasing out fossil fuels. Cabinet Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku will represent Tonga at the meeting.
The dialogue traces its roots to March 2023, when leaders first convened in Port Vila in the aftermath of two devastating Category-4 cyclones. In that moment of crisis, PSIDS forged a collective vision for a Fossil Fuel-Free Pacific and amplified global calls for a managed transition away from fossil fuels.
Now, they return for “Port Vila II,” a preparatory summit ahead of the First International Conference on Transitioning Away From Fossil Fuels in Santa Marta later this month—a milestone the Pacific helped bring into existence and one it intends to shape decisively.
At the heart of Port Vila II is a push to solidify a unified Pacific position on phasing out fossil fuels, strengthen support for the Fossil Fuel Treaty proposal, and establish a PSIDS Inter-Governmental Taskforce to guide the region through the next phase of negotiations.
Vanuatu’s Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Ralph Regenvanu, underscored the urgency: “The Pacific did not create the fossil fuel crisis, yet we are paying the highest price for it. Our communities are on the frontlines of sea level rise, intensifying cyclones, and the slow erasure of the only homes we have ever known. Port Vila II is about ensuring our voice doesn't just get heard at Santa Marta—it must shape what happens there.”
Australia under pressure
The Santa Marta conference is emerging as a defining moment in global climate diplomacy—one that places particular scrutiny on Australia.
Despite its proximity and longstanding ties to the Pacific, Australia continues to approve new coal and gas projects, a stance Pacific leaders argue contradicts its role as a regional partner.
Pacific Climate Champion Joseph Sikulu emphasized the stakes: “For Pacific Islands, leading on climate has never been a choice; it has been a matter of survival. We were the first to call for a fossil fuel treaty, knowing we need to try everything we can to bring about the transformation we need. The Santa Marta Conference is an opportunity for Australia…to show us they are ready to lead on climate alongside us.”
With Australia set to preside over negotiations at COP31 in 2026, the upcoming conference offers a critical test of its commitment to the region and to meaningful climate action.
Tzeporah Berman, Founder and Chair of the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, highlighted the Pacific’s leadership: “Pacific Island Nations were the first to call for a Fossil Fuel Treaty… It is an honour to support their leadership as they prepare for the first diplomatic conference on fossil fuel phase-out in Santa Marta.”
Fuel crisis adds urgency
The push for transition comes as Pacific nations grapple with immediate energy pressures linked to conflict in the Middle East. Fiji has raised petrol prices by 20%, Tuvalu has sent government workers home, and the Marshall Islandshas declared a 90-day economic emergency.
Against this backdrop, Port Vila II is more than a diplomatic gathering—it is a coordinated effort by Pacific nations to turn vulnerability into influence, and to ensure their survival drives the global transition away from fossil fuels.
