Pacific leaders welcome Australia’s ‘renewed commitment’ to climate change

Pacific leaders have welcomed Australia's "renewed commitment" on climate change and interest in co-hosting a United Nations climate summit with Pacific nations, as Anthony Albanese heralds a successful reset of relationships in the region.

At the close of the Pacific Islands Forum in Suva on Thursday, leaders emerged on time and smiling from their daylong leaders' retreat, before cutting a cake with a ceremonial sword and posing for a selfie when Albanese pulled out his phone.

The retreat was the final and most important event of the forum, the most significant diplomatic meeting in the region. This is the first time that Pacific leaders have been able to meet in person since they gathered in Tuvalu in 2019.

A source present during the retreat said that it was "the most cordial and friendly PIF I have ever attended" and that discussions among leaders "never felt even slightly confrontational".

This was in contrast to the 2019 meeting, at which the retreat lasted nearly 12 hours, broke down twice and reduced one Pacific leader to tears, over Australia's attempts to water down language on climate change.

Albanese drew a comparison with the last forum, which occurred when Scott Morrison was prime minister, and said this year's event represented a "success" for Australia.

"I note that previously this meeting would have still been going for many hours, and I'm told that one of the reasons for that is the changed position of Australia," he said.