Climate Summit Warns Stronger Action Needed To Curb Global Warming Ahead Of COP31

Countries must urgently strengthen their climate commitments and accelerate emissions cuts to limit global warming to 1.5°C, a statement issued at a conference ahead of the UN’s COP31 summit has warned.

The ministerial meeting, held in Fiji and Tuvalu, called for “deep, rapid and sustained emissions reductions” to minimise both the magnitude and duration of any period in which global temperatures exceed the 1.5°C target.

The warning comes as global temperatures approach the threshold set under the 2015 Paris Agreement, while strong El Niño conditions are adding to concerns over extreme weather and climate impacts.

Every Fraction Of A Degree Matters

The summit statement stressed that every additional fraction of a degree of warming can intensify the effects of climate change and increase the risk of irreversible loss and damage, particularly for vulnerable communities.

The statement said stronger action was needed as the world faces increasing climate risks and the possibility of exceeding the 1.5°C threshold.

The UN Environment Programme warned last month that global temperatures are likely to cross the 1.5°C threshold within the next few years. It said exceeding the limit would increase risks including extreme weather, glacier loss, ecosystem damage and rising sea levels.

Pacific Islands Face Growing Sea-Level Threat

Pacific island nations are among the regions most vulnerable to climate change, with rising sea levels posing a serious threat to communities, infrastructure and national territory.

In Tuvalu, sea levels rose by around 15 centimetres between 1993 and 2023, according to NASA researchers, roughly twice the global average over the same period.

The pre-COP31 meeting also reaffirmed the importance of protecting the sovereignty and maritime rights of countries facing the consequences of sea-level rise. Pacific nations have repeatedly called for stronger international action to address the climate crisis and provide support for vulnerable communities.

COP31 Preparations Underway

The Fiji-Tuvalu ministerial meeting is part of preparations for COP31, the UN climate conference scheduled to take place in Turkey in November.

Pre-COP meetings typically bring together climate negotiators and officials to discuss priorities and build consensus ahead of the main summit. Australia and Pacific countries are working through the COP31 Pacific Partnership to ensure that Pacific concerns and climate solutions receive greater attention in global climate negotiations.

The upcoming summit is expected to focus heavily on stronger emissions reductions, climate finance, adaptation and support for countries most vulnerable to climate change.

UN Calls For Faster Climate Action

The warning from the Pacific region comes alongside broader calls from the United Nations for countries to move faster on climate action.

At the UN Climate Summit in September, leaders highlighted the need to turn existing commitments into faster and stronger action, including accelerating the transition to clean energy, expanding climate finance and strengthening communities’ resilience to climate impacts.

With the 1.5°C threshold increasingly at risk, climate negotiators face mounting pressure to translate existing pledges into concrete emissions reductions and stronger action before COP31.