As part of preparations for the international COP31 climate conference in Fiji, a meeting was held at which Wopke Hoekstra, climate policy commissioner of the European Commission, delivered remarks. The event took place on October 7 and was dedicated to opening the plenary session ahead of the upcoming climate summit. In his speech, Hoekstra noted that it was a great honor for him to be in the Pacific region and in Fiji once again. He highly praised the country's leadership role in advancing the international climate agenda, emphasizing the significance of island nations in global efforts to combat climate change. The central theme of the speech was preserving the possibility of keeping the rise in global temperature within 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels—a key goal of the Paris Agreement. The commissioner stressed that, despite the challenges, this goal remains achievable provided there are coordinated actions by the global community. The meeting in Fiji is regarded as an important stage in preparing for the full-scale COP31 conference, during which countries plan to discuss further steps on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation to climate change, and financing of climate programs, particularly for vulnerable Pacific island nations. European Union representatives traditionally give great attention to dialogue with Pacific nations, which are among the most vulnerable to the consequences of climate change, including rising sea levels and extreme weather events.