REGIONAL leaders have discussed the need to strengthen water and energy security to ensure sustainable development.
The 9th Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development also addressed the need to enhance innovation and resilient infrastructure, foster sustainable and culturally grounded communities, and mobilise partnerships for youth empowerment and development financing. Peer-learning sessions on Voluntary Local Reviews and Financing for Development were also held during the Forum
The event was co-hosted in Suva by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in partnership with the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC).
Pacific governments, regional organisations, the private sector, civil society, youth, and development partners attended in an effort to accelerate efforts toward achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The PRSD provided a platform to ensure that the Pacific priorities and perspectives informed regional and global sustainable development discussions, including the forthcoming 13th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) and the 2026 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York.
The theme for the two-day event was “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for a sustainable future for all.”
Secretary General Baron Waqa emphasised the importance of regional solidarity and coordinated action with the Pacific Islands Forum’s partners, to deliver sustainable results in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific.
“Our region continues to navigate complex global landscapes that shape how we engage with partners, but we remain steadfast in our commitment to collaboration that advances climate action, trade and economic resilience, and the wellbeing of our people. The 2030 Agenda reflects our shared aspirations, and urgent and coordinated action is required to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves,” he said.
The Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana said attainment of internationally agreed development goals was possible only through cooperation, and partnerships.