Pre-COP

5 to 8 October 2026

Fiji, Tuvalu and Australia partnered to deliver the official Pre-COP ministerial meeting and the Leaders’ event. These events brought global climate decision makers to the Pacific ahead of COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye. They amplified Pacific voices on the world stage and showcased Pacific-led climate solutions.

More than 4,000 people from over 100 countries attended Pre-COP and the associated Vale Ni Vanua – Knowledge Exchange stakeholder events.

Co-hosted by Fiji and Australia, Pre-COP was one of the most significant international events ever held in the region.

Learn more: Pacific Pre-COP sets launchpad for climate summit in Türkiye

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Leaders’ event


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Villagers of Cogea in Fiji contribute to the construction of their homes in the new site. Families of Cogea were displaced by Tropical Cyclone Yasa in December 2020. Overseen by the Fiji Council of Social Services, Cogea’s relocation aims to build 30 hous
A Nabavatu resident inside his temporary tent home after a landslip following Tropical Cyclone Yasa (Dec 2020) and Ana ( Jan 2021) in Fiji.
A resident of Tarawa in Kiribati building a sea wall in an effort to keep a handful of homes protected from tidal surges and steep erosion on the beach. Planned relocation for Kiribati is a measure of last resort when all adaptation measures have been exh
Tonga’s island of ‘Atatā in the aftermath of a tsunami caused by the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano ( Jan 2022). The entire population of Atatā island was permanently relocated to a new site named Atatā Si’i (Little Atatā) on the main i
Youth consultation on planned relocation in Rongrong community in Marshall Islands to guide the government of the Marshall Islands on the next steps for the development of planned relocation work in the country. Planned relocation is an adaptation pathway
Residents of Carteret Islands in Papua New Guinea that choose to stay in place. Carteret Islands was the first place in the world to require population relocations due to climate change related sea level rises, with predictions they would be submerged by
A community member of Vunidogoloa, Fiji, at the spot where his home used to be before the village moved uphill in 2014. Vunidogoloa is one of six Fijian villages that have already been relocated, and many more are currently being assessed for relocation.
Residents of Mataso island, Vanuatu, help their relatives move after Tropical Cyclone Pam (March 2015). This devastation forced 120 people to be displaced for almost two months away from their island home to Port Vila.
A resident of Niue sits among the remains of her cousin’s home, which was destroyed by Tropical Cyclone Heta in 2004. Following the devastation, the Niue government relocated infrastructure and essential services to the upper terrace. At the same time, a
Local community members of Hela province in Papua New Guinea leading the drafting of their ward development plan in close collaboration with local authorities.
A resident of Lilisiana village in the Malaita province of Solomon Islands sits beside her grandparent’s grave as rising seas erode the village burial ground. While relocation may become inevitable, the residents of Lilisiana are taking action themselves
Newly constructed houses in the relocated site of Tukuraki village. The relocation of the village was triggered by a landslide ( Jan 2012), Tropical Cyclone Evan (Oct 2012) and Tropical Cyclone Winston (Feb 2016). The landslide devastated the old Tukuraki
Relocating can be a painful psychological process for residents of Vunisavisavi village in Fiji. Vunisavisavi was partially relocated in 2016 due to sea level rise and intense storm surges. It is the original home of the first "Tui Cakau", the paramount c
A village elder of Fiu in Solomon Islands discusses the impacts of planned relocation on his community.
Local fisherman casts his net where he always has, even as the sun reflects the quiet truth of rising seas; a daily reminder that the coastline and the life it sustains, is changing.
Behind this home in Butilei, the ocean reaches the doorstep even at low tide, highlighting just how close the climate crisis has come to people's homes, livelihoods and everyday lives.

This photo series was showcased at the Pacific Climate Mobility Regional Exchange: Addressing Challenges and Prospects for Planned Relocation, held from 3–5 March 2026 at Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi, Fiji.

It was developed through a collaboration between the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Fiji and the Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD), with the aim of bringing greater visibility to the human dimension of planned relocation and the importance of community-centred approaches.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, the Indigenous Peoples throughout the Pacific and globally, and their roles in caring for lands, seas and skies. We respect and recognise Indigenous Peoples’ contributions in the fight against climate change.