China and Pacific Island Nations Strengthen Collaboration to Boost Climate Resilience

The China-Pacific Island Countries Green Development and Cooperation Alliance was officially launched in 2024 in Liaocheng city, located in east China's Shandong Province. This landmark initiative marks a new chapter in fostering long-term collaboration between China and Pacific Island Countries (PICs) on issues of green and low-carbon development. The alliance aims to bring together enterprises, industry associations, and research institutions, creating a broad platform to accelerate progress toward sustainable energy, ecosystem protection, and building climate-resilient infrastructure across the region.

By leveraging the technical expertise and financial resources of Chinese partners, the alliance hopes to support PICs as they strive to meet ambitious national and international climate goals. These countries, including Fiji, Samoa, Kiribati, Micronesia, and the Solomon Islands, face unique challenges from rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and environmental degradation, making them some of the world’s most vulnerable to climate change. Through targeted cooperation, the alliance looks to provide practical pathways for transitioning to renewable energy sources and developing local capacity for nature-based solutions.

Since its establishment in 2022, the China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Change Cooperation Center has emerged as a key South-South cooperation hub. Over the past two years, the center organized six rounds of specialized training that have benefited more than 120 government officials and technical professionals from several Pacific Island nations. Participants received instruction in climate monitoring, risk assessment, green energy policy-making, and implementation of innovative ecosystem solutions—essential skills for advancing adaptation measures at home.

Notably, the 2022 South-South Cooperation training on climate change and green development drew over 40 experts from nations such as Kiribati, Tonga, and Vanuatu, demonstrating the program’s commitment to inclusion and shared learning. The interactive curriculum provided both theoretical frameworks and hands-on case studies, directly addressing the pressing needs and capacities of these island communities. Such knowledge exchanges not only build individual competencies but also foster institutional partnerships that ensure continuity and impact.

The scope of this partnership is expected to broaden further. Future plans include deeper engagement in climate finance, early warning systems, and comprehensive adaptation planning. Chinese experience with large-scale green infrastructure and policy-driven environmental management offers valuable models for adaptation, while the local ecological stewardship and community-led governance of PICs provide important lessons for other nations facing similar threats.

This evolving alliance signals a new direction for international climate cooperation, embodying the principles of mutual benefit and shared responsibility. As Pacific Island countries continue to confront the existential threat of climate change, initiatives like the China-Pacific Island Countries Green Development and Cooperation Alliance stand out as critical platforms for innovation, resilience, and hope for a sustainable future.

(Cover: Villagers relax inside cabanas along Vavau Beach in Samoa, March 23, 2025. /VCG)