FIJI: Pacific tourism pushes Climate Action with new Griffith University Partnership

Fiji Islands – Image: Josh Withers/Pexels

The Pacific tourism sector is taking a decisive step toward climate resilience, as the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO, Suva, Fiji) and Griffith University (GU, South East Queensland, Australia) formalise a strategic partnership to develop the first-ever Pacific Regional Tourism & Climate Change Action Plan.

More than a symbolic agreement, this collaboration directly equips Pacific Island Countries and Territories with the policy alignment, technical frameworks, and advocacy leverage needed to embed tourism within national climate responses and unlock access to climate finance.

Climate action aligned with UN Glasgow Declaration

The partnership establishes a collaborative, non-binding framework focused on tangible outcomes for the region. At its core is the development of a regionally coordinated Action Plan aligned with the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, and the Pacific Tourism Organisation’s Joint statement at the First Ministerial Meeting on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism during UNFCCC COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, ensuring Pacific tourism is not only part of the global climate conversation but actively shaping it. The initiative will support SPTO Member Countries in designing and implementing national tourism climate action plans, strengthening their ability to respond to climate risks while maintaining sustainable growth.

“This partnership is about shifting tourism from being seen as vulnerable to climate change, to being recognised as a critical part of the solution,” said Chris Cocker, Chief Executive Officer of SPTO. “By working with Griffith University, we are equipping our members with practical tools and a unified regional direction that will enable them to access climate finance, influence policy, and future-proof one of the Pacific’s most vital economic sectors.”

Chris Cocker, Chief Executive Officer of SPTO (center) and Susanne Becken, a Professor of Sustainable Tourism at Griffith University in Australia (right) – Image: SPTO

Professor Susanne Becken from Griffith University added, “The Pacific is on the frontline of climate change, and tourism sits at the intersection of environment, economy, and community. This collaboration ensures that Pacific voices, data, and priorities are embedded in climate planning, while also building the institutional capacity needed to deliver long-term, systemic change.”

Climate action collaboration

The scope of collaboration will unfold in four phases. An initial strategic engagement at the SPTO Board of Directors meeting in May 2026 will frame the tourism–climate challenge and secure high-level endorsement. This will be followed by a comprehensive regional diagnostic and mapping exercise led by Griffith University, assessing existing policies, data gaps, and levels of engagement with the Glasgow Declaration.

Subsequent country and regional consultations will integrate climate discussions into ongoing SPTO engagements, ensuring efficiency and strong stakeholder ownership. The final phase will deliver the Pacific Regional Tourism & Climate Change Action Plan—providing a shared regional direction across key climate pathways, a practical template for national-level action plans, and a clear pipeline for climate finance and advocacy priorities.

Crucially, this partnership is designed as a platform for collaboration rather than a transactional agreement. It reflects a shared commitment to advancing sustainable tourism development in the Pacific, while allowing flexibility for future initiatives to be formalised through separate arrangements where required.

By aligning tourism policy with climate priorities, SPTO and Griffith University are positioning the Pacific not just to respond to climate change, but to lead with a model of tourism that is resilient, regenerative, and globally relevant.

NAN/SPTO 11-05-26

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