CLIMATE change is no longer just an environmental concern but a growing threat to security, stability, and development across the Pacific, says Germany’s Ambassador to Fiji, Dr. Andreas Prothmann.
Speaking at the Climate Talk: Navigating Climate Risks Talanoa Dialogue in Suva, Prothmann said Pacific Island countries are already experiencing the harsh realities of climate change, with impacts being felt across livelihoods, economies, and communities.
“Across the Pacific, climate change is not a distant scenario – it is a lived reality,” he said.
He emphasised that the region has long recognised the seriousness of the crisis, pointing to the Pacific Islands Forum Boe Declaration on Regional Security, which identifies climate change as the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security, and well-being of Pacific peoples.
“In many ways, the Pacific has long understood what the international community is only now fully grasping – that climate risk is inseparable from economic resilience, social stability and long-term security,” he said.
Prothmann said Germany values its partnership with Fiji and other Pacific Island countries, noting that cooperation is grounded in mutual respect and shared priorities.
He highlighted that addressing climate change is central not only to environmental protection, but also to sustainable development and human security.
Prothman said the Talanoa Dialogue was timely, providing an important platform for governments, development partners, and civil society to deepen their understanding of the link between climate change, security, and finance.
“Our goal is not only to exchange views, but to identify practical pathways forward,” he said.
Prothmann stressed the importance of improving access to climate finance and ensuring that resources reach communities where they are most needed to strengthen resilience and preparedness.
He added that stronger collaboration and more responsive financing systems will be key to helping Pacific nations adapt to and manage the increasing risks posed by climate change.