Port Vila, Vanuatu — From 13–15 May 2025, government officials from across Vanuatu convened for the second national climate change negotiations training—a three-day capacity-building initiative aimed at preparing delegates for the 62nd session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Subsidiary Bodies (UNFCCC SB62) in June and, ultimately, the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) in Brazil this November.

In his opening address, Acting Director of Climate Change for Vanuatu, Mr. Nelson Kalo, set the tone with a powerful message:

“It is a profound honour to lead the dedicated team of the Ministry of Climate Change, an institution grounded in science and driven by an unwavering commitment to deliver climate action to the very heart of our nation, including our most remote and vulnerable communities... This week’s gathering is not only a capacity-building exercise; it is a strategic moment to shape Vanuatu’s voice and vision at COP30.”

Mr. Kalo highlighted the urgent realities of the climate crisis and called on Vanuatu’s delegation to represent the voices of those bearing the brunt of climate injustice. “Let your advocacy be bold, your negotiations strategic, and your purpose unwavering,” he urged.

As an island nation acutely vulnerable to climate extremes, Vanuatu continues to demonstrate regional leadership by investing in negotiation capacity at home. The training focused on equipping both emerging and experienced negotiators with the tools to effectively engage in multilateral climate processes, including key agenda items for SB62 and COP30.

The workshop began with foundational sessions for officials new to the UNFCCC process, then shifted into in-depth reviews of outcomes from the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) and practical sessions focused on key thematic areas such as the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), the Mitigation Work Programme, Just Transition, Climate Finance and the Baku to Belém Roadmap, Loss and Damage, and The Global Stocktake (GST).

Interactive sessions—including group work, simulation exercises, and drafting of national positions—allowed participants to apply their learning in real time. The final day featured collaborative efforts led by the Ministry of Climate Change to shape Vanuatu’s overall preparations for SB62.

As the global community prepares for COP30 in Belém, Brazil, Vanuatu’s strengthened delegation enters the negotiation space with renewed clarity, coordination, and resolve. Backed by science and driven by the lived experience of its communities, Vanuatu’s negotiators stand ready to advocate for real, and measurable progress on climate finance, adaptation, and justice.

Reflecting on Vanuatu’s longstanding commitment, former UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres commended Vanuatu’s leadership in the international climate change space:

“Vanuatu has been the light, the backbone of the negotiations. Those of you who are new negotiators step into very large shoes of previous negotiators and representatives of your country who have been incredibly brave and very compelling and eloquent, not deviating and not compromising your responsibility.”

She further emphasised the profound responsibility borne by the current generation:

“Thank you for your courage, for your endurance and realizing that you are working here for your ancestors and that you are working as an ancestor because all of us alive are already ancestors of future generations and that is where we get our responsibility— we are responsible for the future.”

This training was made possible through a partnership between the Government of Vanuatu, through the Ministry of Climate Change and the National Advisory Board on Climate Change & Disaster Risk Reduction, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, with support from:

• The Strengthening Pacific Leadership in International Climate Change Engagement Project, funded by the Government of Australia and implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.
• The Vanuatu Klaemet blong Redy, Adapt mo Protekt Project, funded by the Green Climate Fund and implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme in partnership with the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Climate Center.