Pacific Climate Diplomacy: Australia, Fiji and Tuvalu kicked off the PACT Pre-COP31 talks in Fiji, with leaders and ministers pushing for fair climate governance and more funding for small island states ahead of COP31 in Turkey, while Australia’s renewables push includes a reported $7.29m for the region’s transition. Nauru Agreement Link to Jobs: Solomon Islands PM Matthew Wale used the same pre-COP platform to argue the Pacific can turn “blue and green” natural capital into jobs and resilience, pointing to the Parties to the Nauru Agreement Vessel Day Scheme as a model for resource governance and highlighting fisheries, marine conservation, blue-carbon and climate resilience financing. Who’s at the Table: Coverage notes only two non-Pacific leaders are attending, underscoring how the meeting is also about keeping global attention on Pacific priorities. Ocean Economy vs Protection: Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. said the region must balance conservation with production, citing Palau’s early ratification of the UN High Seas Treaty and its marine sanctuary approach. Deep-Sea Mining Pressure: Commentaries and reporting across the region warn that seabed minerals are driving a race to set rules, with concerns about sovereignty and investor-state disputes; Cook Islands debate over deep-sea mining also spotlights the trade-off between economic hopes and environmental risk. Governance and Trust: Solomon Islands’ Dr Transform Aqorau urged public institutions to prioritise merit and accountability over connections, tying good governance to how appointments and public money are handled.