Pacific nations including those bearing the brunt of the global climate crisis are coming to COP 28 in Dubai this week ready for more action, more ambition, and more urgency for an outcome that gets the world back on track.

These were the sentiments of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Henry Puna.

Puna says the 28th UNFCCC global climate negotiations are drawing record crowds and are set to exceed 60,000-plus attendance records for the COP Presidency led by Forum and Pacific delegations.

He says this year’s COP also features increased numbers of youth voices to help amplify the Pacific urgency and future-facing focus for climate ambition, climate action, and climate justice.

This COP 28 will also see an increase in Pacific High-Level Political champions heading to special sessions and side events, eager to ensure traction on a range of issues including the first global stock take on implementation of the Paris Agreement.

The eight Political Climate Champions of the Pacific are, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, the Cook Islands Prime Minister and Forum chair Mark Brown, the Tongan Prime Minister Huákavameiliku, Vanuatu Minister of Climate Change Ralph Regenvanu, Tuvaluan Minister of Finance and Climate Change Seve Paeniu, Samoan Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Cedric Schuster, the Minister of Natural Resources and Commerce John Silk, and Niue Minister of Natural Resources, Mona Ainu’u.

While thanking all current and former Pacific Islands Forum Leaders who have voluntarily taken on the additional duties of being political champions across key regional positions, Puna noted how high-level ownership of the climate crisis by Pacific Leaders and ministers has developed since five high-level champions were announced in 2021.