The Pacific Pre-COP31, held in Nadi, Fiji, from 5 to 8 October 2026, brought global climate decision-makers to a region already experiencing the consequences of a warming world. Its stakeholder programme followed four official policy pillars: keeping 1.5°C within reach, enhancing access to climate finance, elevating the ocean-climate nexus, and amplifying Pacific voices and leadership.

Across the ministerial discussions and wider stakeholder programme, a consistent message emerged: climate finance must move more quickly from international commitments to implementation. This requires not only mobilizing larger volumes of finance, but also ensuring that funding is accessible, appropriate, and reaches the countries and communities facing the greatest climate risks.

The Gap Between Commitments and Delivery

The official closing summary reported that more than USD16 billion in climate finance has been committed to Pacific countries since the Paris Agreement, while more than USD5 billion remains undisbursed. The figures point to a persistent challenge for Pacific Island countries: finance may be recorded as committed without yet reaching implementation.

At the opening of the Pre-COP, Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change, emphasized that both access to and the quality of climate finance must be addressed. He called on those represented on the boards of development banks and other institutions to use their influence to help finance reach the ground more rapidly.

Australia announced an Access to Finance Statement and Action Plan intended to make climate finance faster, simpler and more accessible, with a focus on barriers that delay funding from reaching vulnerable communities. An earlier concept note identified reducing transaction costs, shortening approval timelines and strengthening country ownership as intended priorities. The final Action Plan was not publicly available at the time of writing.

Access Must Also Mean Inclusion

Improving access at the national level is essential, but finance that reaches a country does not automatically reach the people carrying the greatest climate risks. This question was at the heart of “Climate Finance That Leaves No One Behind!”, held as part of the Pre-COP Vale ni Vanua – Knowledge Exchange. The session considered how climate finance can better serve groups that face high climate exposure but limited financial protection, including women, persons with disabilities, social welfare beneficiaries, farmers and people reliant on fishing livelihoods. It also examined practical lessons for overcoming barriers to inclusive finance in the Pacific. The session was supported by the Pacific Insurance and Climate Adaptation Programme, or PICAP, to which UNU-EHS contributes.

Insurance can form one part of a broader financial protection system. It cannot replace investment in adaptation, essential public services, social protection, loss-and-damage finance, or measures that reduce underlying vulnerability.

Pacific-Led Institutions and National Systems

The Pacific Resilience Facility was one of the most prominent financial initiatives discussed in Nadi. Established by Pacific Islands Forum members, it is intended to mobilize accessible and predictable financing for climate and disaster resilience while placing Pacific priorities and decision-making at the centre.

During the Pre-COP, Fiji announced a USD 10 million contribution to the Facility, while Denmark announced USD 2.3 million and the Netherlands a further USD 1 million. With these commitments, total pledges reached approximately USD 190 million, against an initial capitalization target of USD 500 million.

The Facility’s first community demonstration grants support projects involving water-quality monitoring in the Marshall Islands, rainwater harvesting in Nauru, coastal restoration in Tonga, household food security in Niue, and sanitation and waste management in the Solomon Islands. These examples show how regional mechanisms can support smaller community-level initiatives that may be difficult to finance through larger international funding programmes.

The Test is What Happens Next

The Pacific Pre-COP31 reinforced a clearer standard for assessing progress within the international climate-finance architecture. Climate finance should not be considered successful when funding is merely pledged, approved or counted. Its effectiveness should be assessed by whether it reaches vulnerable countries in time, supports national and regional institutions, strengthens rather than fragments public systems, and produces tangible benefits for climate-affected communities.

For MCII, this also means continuing to ask who is protected, who remains excluded and how financial instruments can be combined to provide inclusive and sustainable protection. As attention turns to COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, leaving no one behind must become more than a general principle. It must shape how climate finance is designed, delivered and evaluated.

Explore more:

“Climate Finance That Leaves No One Behind!”

The session formed part of the pre-COP31 Vale ni Vanua – Knowledge Exchange and examined practical lessons for making climate finance more inclusive across the Pacific.

Watch the Session Recording Here

Read the Official Session Information Here

Inclusive climate risk finance is central to the Pacific Insurance and Climate Adaptation Programme (PICAP), which aims to strengthen the financial preparedness of Pacific communities. PICAP supported the session, which highlighted initiatives developed through the programme. PICAP is jointly implemented by the United Nations Capital Development Fund, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security.