The annual summit of the Pacific Islands Forum was held in Nuku'alofa, the capital of Tonga.
![](https://www.sanskritiias.com/uploaded_files/images/PACIFIC_ISLANDS_FORUM.jpg)
Important issues covered in the summit
- Climate change and economic challenges
- Demand for funds for disaster resilience
- Issue related to New Caledonia unrest
- Geopolitical rivalries
- US territories seeking associate membership status
About the Pacific Islands Forum
- Introduction: It is the apex political and economic organization of the Pacific region. Its objective is to bring the region together to deal with important issues and challenges and to promote cooperation and collaboration in achieving common goals.
- Establishment: It was established in the year 1971 as the South Pacific Forum (SPF), but in the year 1999, its name was changed to 'Pacific Islands Forum' to make this forum more inclusive.
- Membership: This forum includes 18 member countries: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru (Nauru), New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
- Vision: It aims to build a resilient Pacific region characterized by peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity.
Goal of the Pacific Islands Forum
- Build resilience to the impacts of climate change and disasters
- Drive the region's economic development aspirations through strong ownership
- Improved connectivity and access to technology for Pacific development
- Build a peaceful, secure and safe Pacific region
- Promote people-centred development
- Gender equality and social inclusion
- Strengthen regional cooperation
Major challenges facing the Pacific Islands Forum
- Rising sea levels due to climate change pose a threat to the existence of many small countries
- Economic development challenges
- Frequency of disasters
- Coral bleaching problem
- Negative impact on fish production due to rising sea temperatures
- Increasing Chinese activity in the Pacific region
Other important points
- According to the World Meteorological Organization, the temperature, acidity and sea level of the ocean are rising faster than average, which is a threat to the Pacific Islands.
- According to the report, the South-West Pacific region has been worst affected by the sea level rise. In some places it is more than double the global average in the last 30 years.