We’re excited to share our ambitious COP31 work program Voices of the Vanua, focused on centring Pacific demands for climate justice and health equity ahead of COP31.

On 'vanua'

In Indigenous Fijian culture, vanua refers to a socio-cultural system where land, community and ancestral ties are inseparable and operate as a single unit. It is not just a physical place, but a structure that defines identity, belonging and responsibility. Read more

Why this? Why now?

We are honoured to be working alongside the Alliance for Future Generations Fiji on this program. For decades, Pacific peoples have led the global movement for climate justice. Their calls will advance health equity across the Pacific and beyond. We stand in solidarity with Pacific communities demanding that their legal rights to health, culture and safety be upheld.

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 and colonialism.

Voices of the Vanua will centre Pacific leadership in the global climate-health movement at COP31, as Australia leads the negotiations. The Australian Government has committed to reflecting Pacific priorities in their work. Australian civil society will play a crucial role in holding the government to account and building momentum behind Pacific demands.

Thank you to Wellcome Trust and WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health for making this work possible.

Key milestones

Voices of the Vanua brings together Pacific-led dialogue, research, advocacy and communications to influence the COP31 agenda.

• 8 October: Pacific Climate & Health Talanoa in Nadi, Fiji, an inclusive dialogue towards regional climate-health outcomes.
  

• 13–14 October: Bring Talanoa outcomes to Canberra through the CAHA Leaders Summit and a day of Parliamentary advocacy
  

• October: Translate the outcomes into advocacy priorities and practical outputs, including policy briefs, case studies and reports for negotiators and media.
  

• 5–20 November: Take these priorities to COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, through CAHA’s role as co-hosts of COY21 and as COP31 delegates.

More detail

The cornerstone of Voices of Vanua is the Pacific Climate and Health Talanoa. Talanoa is a traditional Pacific approach to inclusive, open dialogue and has been recognised by the IPCC as a method for gathering information and evidence in the Pacific. The Talanoa will be Pacific-led and grounded in lived experience.

CAHA will carry these outcomes to Canberra for our Leaders Summit on 13 October, bringing together leaders from health, youth and climate movements, First Nations communities and government to listen, share and strategise around Pacific priorities. Agenda attached.

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.

From 5-7 November, CAHA will officially 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.

From 9-20 November, 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. We are still awaiting final confirmation of the number of badges we've received, and CAHA members who applied to be part of our delegation will be informed as soon as possible about the outcome.

Much will emerge through authentic, Pacific-led consultation. We will keep you informed about engaging with this program as it unfurls.