Ahead of COP31, 56 health leaders representing Pacific nations, First Nations, medicine, nursing, mental health, healthcare services, public health, pharmacy, consumer interests, youth, allied health, health promotion, older adults, and unions, gathered in Canberra on 13 October 2026 and endorsed the following to protect the health of all people in the Pacific region.

The decisions made at COP31 will shape whether the world moves towards climate justice and health equity, or further entrenches the harms of fossil fuels, colonialism, and militarisation. These decisions will disproportionately affect Pacific peoples, First Nations peoples, Torres Strait Islanders, women, youth, children, and people with disabilities.

Leaders’ Summit Statement

Together, we call on the Australian Government, the Prime Minister, its Ministers and Parliamentarians, to act to protect the health, wellbeing, and culture of all Australians, Pacific Peoples, and future generations:

1. Act in line with the legal obligation to limit warming to 1.5°C for current and future generations. Any pathway that plans to overshoot 1.5°C violates this obligation;

2. Phase out fossil fuels urgently, which means no more coal, oil and gas project approvals and expansions, an end to fossil fuel subsidies, an end to existing fossil fuel use and a rapid transition to renewable energy;

3. Uphold the rights of First Nations peoples across Australia and the Pacific, to health, lands and territories, resources, culture, safety, food, clean water, clean air, work, economic development and self-determination;

4. Give frontline communities power in climate decision-making, and enable self-determination for First Nations peoples and Pacific peoples, women, youth and people with disabilities;

5. Recognise Traditional Knowledge and Lived Experience as essential foundations for climate resilience, adaptation and sustainable development across Australia and the Pacific;

6. Deliver debt-free climate finance directly to communities for Pacific-led, culturally appropriate solutions, and increase Australia’s contribution to the Pacific Resilience Facility;

7. Provide sustainable funding, technology transfer and capacity and capability building to support climate-resilient Pacific healthcare systems;

8. Deliver the National Health and Climate Strategy in full to increase healthcare sector and community climate resilience and adaptation;

9. Invest in mental health and psychosocial support services which support the wellbeing of communities and allow young people to flourish in the face of climate change; and

10. Embed protection from all forms of gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in disaster, evacuation and displacement planning.

View the PDF version here.

How did we get here?

The climate crisis is a health crisis.

Across Australia and the Pacific, extreme heat, food and water insecurity, and fossil fuel pollution threaten lives, wellbeing and the healthcare systems communities rely on. These impacts deepen existing health inequities, with women and marginalised communities often facing disproportionate risks.

Pacific peoples have led the global fight for climate justice for decades, calling for their rights to health, culture, safety and self-determination to be upheld. Their knowledge, lived experience and community-led solutions are essential to advancing health equity.

Through Voices of the Vanua, our COP31 program of work, the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) is centring Pacific demands for climate justice and health equity. Working alongside Alliance for Future Generations Fiji, and with the support of Wellcome Trust, we are bringing Pacific-led dialogue, research, advocacy and communications into the lead-up to COP31.

On 8 October 2026, we held Salt Water in Our Blood: A Pacific Climate and Health Talanoa in Fiji, alongside Alliance for Future Generations Fiji. Through open dialogue, deep listening and shared experiences, participants explored the connections between the climate crisis, health equity and justice.

The priorities shared through our Talanoa have helped shape these 10 demands from health leaders. They call for governments to uphold their legal obligations, urgently address the health impacts of the climate crisis, recognise women's leadership, provide grant-based climate finance rather than deepen debt, and invest in Pacific-led solutions and climate-resilient healthcare systems.

With Australia leading the COP31 negotiations, decision-makers have an obligation to turn commitments into action. Protecting health across Australia and the Pacific requires climate justice, a just transition and meaningful investment in health equity that reflects the voices and priorities of Pacific communities.

Our journey to COP31

• 8 October: Pacific Climate & Health Talanoa in Nadi, Fiji, an inclusive dialogue towards regional climate-health outcomes.
  
  
• 13-14 October: CAHA will carry these outcomes to Canberra for our Leaders Summit on 13-14 October, bringing together leaders from health, youth and climate movements, First Nations communities and government to listen, share and strategise around Pacific priorities.
  
  
• October: The outcomes will guide our advocacy and communications work, supported by a rapid research review. We’ll use media, digital communications, events and advocacy to build public attention and support for Pacific demands.
  
  
• 5-7 November: In Antalya, Türkiye, CAHA will step into its role as co-host of the Conference of Children and Youth for Climate Action (COY21), bringing together children and young people from around the world to connect, exchange ideas and build their capacity to engage meaningfully in the UNFCCC process.
  
  
• 9-20 November: In Antalya, Türkiye, CAHA will coordinate a delegation at COP31 comprising youth, First Nations, Pacific peoples and CAHA members. At COP31, we’ll use every opportunity to build public attention and support for Pacific communities’ demands for legal accountability, climate justice and health equity.