We brought colleagues and partners with us from across the Pacific region, to make sure that Pacific women’s voices were at the centre of discussions throughout the week. It has been a huge week of discussion, collaboration and connection. Here are some of the highlights.
Young Women’s Climate Summit
We started by hosted a Young Women’s Climate Summit together with the Shifting the Power Coalition – a network of women-led organisations working across the Pacific which ActionAid is part of – as well as MECCA M-POWER.
The summit brought together 40 young climate leaders from Australia and across the Pacific. These are young women already leading change in their communities – coming together to share experiences, learn from one another, and build a stronger, collective voice for climate justice.
The day focused on deepening understanding of how climate change is impacting different communities, strengthening leadership, and shaping a shared path forward for feminist climate action in our region. It was a powerful reminder of what happens when young women are supported to lead.
Youth-Led Solutions Circle for Climate Justice
ActionAid had the privilege of leading a session with Shifting the Power Coalition and World YWCA on Youth-Led Solutions Circle for Climate Justice. In this session, ActionAid’s Campaign Manager Rachel Dobric joined with Penninah Woyengu from Hauskuk Initiative in Papua New Guinea, Tabouea Naare from Nei Mom Uprising in Kiribati and Julie Mara from YWCA Solomon Islands, to ask the audience to help come up with solutions to climate challenges that women are facing across the Pacific.
It was fantastic to see so many people turn up for this session and contribute their ideas and solutions, to build greater collaboration and solidarity into our work. We’re looking forward to continuing this important conversation on how we can build solidarity and further action into the future.
Photo Exhibit Launch: The Ni-Vanuatu Women Leading Climate Action
We were incredibly proud to launch a new photo exhibition in the Climate Pavillion – The Ni-Vanuatu Women Leading Climate Action – which we held together with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and was supported by MECCA M-POWER.
The exhibition features photography by Harriet Pratten which beautifully captures the strength of women’s leadership and the Women I Tok Tok Tugeta network across Vanuatu. These powerful images tell the stories of the Ni-Vanuatu women who are breaking down barriers, leading climate solutions, and transforming their communities for generations to come.
Flora Vano takes the stage at Women Deliver
ActionAid’s Vanuatu’s Flora Vano took to the plenary stage to discuss women-led climate action on the road to COP31, and shared powerful stories of how women in Vanuatu are not just sitting by waiting to be helped – they are taking action and leading efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change in their villages.
We heard about grassroots climate action led by women, such as Women Wetem Weta – Women’s Weather Watch – where women lead phone trees in times of disaster, ensuring that everyone in the community gets crucial information on how to prepare for and respond to upcoming disasters like cyclones. These women act as a bridge between the scientific messages that are distributed by official bodies, and the community who need practical messages on how act to save lives and their homes.
Flora left government decision makers in the room with a clear message: fund women-led climate action, and as the ones most impacted by the climate crisis – women must have a seat at the decision-making table.
Funding women-led climate solutions
Together with Koda Capital, ActionAid Australia and the Shifting the Power Coalition hosted a gathering to discuss the role of women leading climate action. We were privileged to hear from women across the Pacific region about their experience with climate change preparedness and crisis response, and how targeted funding and local leadership can translate into real-world impact, supporting gender equality and climate justice.
Pacific Young Women Shifting the Power for Humanitarian and Climate Action
We wrapped up the week with a session hosted by the Shifting the Power Coalition, where Pacific young women took centre stage to flip the script on who leads climate and humanitarian action. Drawing on their experiences as frontline responders, the women shared stories of innovative early warning systems and community responses to the climate crisis.
Guided by Pacific weaving practices and storytelling, we all sat and weaved together while sharing what stories we plan to weave into our collective movement. This was a really special way for us to share stories, learn from each other, and strengthen our solidarity so collectively we can continue to amplify Pacific women’s priorities for humanitarian and climate action.