Samoa’s Environment Minister sets sights on Survival Priorities at COP31

By Lagi Keresoma, in Antalya, Turkiye/

“Fortitude and Resilience is a topic of utmost importance. When we look across our ocean home, these are not merely fine words or academic concepts for a summit agenda, they are the very bedrock of our survival, etched into our history, our genealogies, and our way of life.” – Minister of Natural Resources & Environment, Hon. Ale Vena Ale.

Antalya, Turkey – 09 November 2026: Survival is of utmost importance and ensuring it remains a reality is Samoa’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), Hon. Ale Vena Ale’s mission at the COP31 conference in Antalya Turkey this week.

Ale’s determination to address survival at the conferences was cemented after being part of the Pacific leaders’ combined efforts at the Pacific Pre-Cop Ministerial meetings to secure a “unified Pacific coalition stance ahead of the Antalya conference.”

Climate change is a long-standing issue being debated, discussed and negotiated at all levels at different times and Ale was asked what the Pacific leaders can do differently in Antalya.

He said survival is not a matter pertaining to Pacific leaders only but to the blue pacific family and the world.

A strong voice needs to be heard, he said.

He is aware that the Pacific is an innocent by-stander in the web of big nations competing in a controlling game.

“The Pacific voice needs to be heard and heard louder than before,” he said.

Pacific consistency in stance on Climate Change & Biodiversity Action
His commitment to climate change matters was further noted when he highlighted collective Pacific efforts at the opening of Samoa’s National Environment Week last month and when he delivered the keynote address at the 5^th Annual Disaster Resilience Summit in American Samoa last week.

At Environment Week, he said that that the “triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution demand urgent action at all levels of society.”

“A collective and strong message needed to be sent out consistently and not wait until another meeting or conference is scheduled to discuss it,” he said.

“Fortitude and Resilience
After the opening of the 5^th Annual Disaster Resilience Summit in American Samoa, he was asked to give a brief outline of the Summit.

He said the Pacific are living in “a region of beauty, yet they also live on the frontlines of a changing climate and unpredictable nature.”

“Fortitude is what carries us through the darkest hours and this is reflected in a disaster, and resilience is what compels us to rise the next morning, sweep away the debris, replant the taro, and build back stronger, smarter and safer than before,” he said.

He emphasized Samoas commitment to resilience hence her support for the regional and international framework she had agreed upon.

“These commitments guide our work to reduce disaster risk, protect our people, protect our environment, and support sustainable development,” he said.

Ale and the Deputy Prime Minister, Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molioo are leading Samoa’s delegation to COPS31 in Antalya, Turkey this week.