Was pre-COP a flop? Questions loom over the Australian government

Key points

• The Australian government's pre-COP summit in Tuvalu has faced criticism for low attendance by non-Pacific leaders, with only representatives from Mauritius and Timor Leste attending. Climate Minister Chris Bowen defended the event, stating it brought global attention to Pacific climate issues.
• The summit aimed to secure funding for the Pacific Resilience Facility, but contributions so far have been modest.
• Pacific officials expressed appreciation for the focus on their climate challenges despite the low leader turnout.