Pacific leaders urge climate action as pre-COP talks open

· Climate · Fiji · Turkey

Pacific leaders urged action on climate change as UN pre-COP talks opened in Fiji ahead of next month's COP31 in Turkey. The UN climate chief warned extreme heat is putting pregnant women and newborns at risk.

Why it matters：The talks set the stage for COP31, where nations will debate limits on warming, climate finance and ocean protection as rising seas threaten island communities.

Key points

  • Discussions focus on limiting warming to 1.5C and improving climate finance access.
  • Turkey and Australia face criticism for hosting COP31 while embracing coal.
  • A survey found nearly all midwives and doctors had cared for mothers or babies suffering from extreme heat.

Sources (original reporting)

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