Updated September 2, 2026 — 5:12pm,first published 11:06am
Koror City, Palau: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hit out at criticism of the fact just five leaders from outside the Pacific have confirmed their attendance at Australia-organised United Nations climate events in Fiji and Tuvalu next month, branding it disrespectful to regional leaders.
The pre-COP leaders event in Tuvalu was organised as part of a compromise deal between Australia and Turkey that will see the main event held in Antalya, Turkey, rather than Adelaide.
The lead-up event was designed to highlight the impact of climate change on low-lying Pacific nations and the need to take dramatic action to rein in carbon emissions.
Fiji Foreign Minister Sakiasi Ditoka announced that leaders from Antigua and Barbuda, Cabo Verde, Thailand, Maldives and Timor-Leste had confirmed their attendance at the pre-COP event. Besides Thailand, the nations have small populations and are not large carbon emitters.
