Ministers and senior officials from Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) are preparing to gather in Vanuatu to discuss ending their fossil fuel dependency as the Middle East conflict upends global supply chains.
The third Pacific Ministerial Dialogue on the Global Just Transition, dubbed “Port Vila II”, will take place from April 13 to 15 to shape the Pacific’s unified position ahead of the world’s first international conference dedicated to phasing out fossil fuels.
The meeting comes at a time of immense regional strain: Fiji has been forced to hike petrol prices by 20 per cent, Tuvalu has sent government workers home to conserve resources, and the Marshall Islands has declared a 90-day economic emergency.
The summit serves as a critical bridge to the world’s first international conference dedicated to phasing out fossil fuels, scheduled for later this month in Santa Marta, Colombia.
Pacific leaders intend to use the Port Vila meeting to consolidate a unified stance and build region-wide support for the Fossil Fuel Treaty proposal.
Vanuatu’s Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Ralph Regenvanu, said: “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.”
The regional push for a managed phase-out places a significant spotlight on Australia. Despite positioning itself as a partner to the Pacific, Australia’s continued approval of new coal and gas projects remains a point of deep contention.
Joseph Sikulu, a Pacific Champion for the Fossil Fuel Treaty, noted that the Santa Marta Conference is a litmus test for the relationship.
“The Santa Marta Conference is an opportunity for Australia, our big brother nation in the Pacific, to show up for the future of the region and to show us they are ready to lead on climate alongside us,” Sikulu said.
With Australia set to preside over COP31 in 2026, Pacific nations are calling for genuine accountability.
Leaders argue that for Australia to be a credible partner, it must move beyond rhetoric and support the multilateral framework for a global transition away from the very fuels currently threatening the survival of its island neighbours.