Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa has emphasised the importance of a Pacific presence at the COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow, saying it will be crucial and could potentially be "the point of no return". 

The 26th United Nations Climate Change conference (known as COP26) is widely viewed as one of the most pivotal conferences on the current global climate crisis.

Fiame, who made the comments in a webinar hosted by the Australia Institute on Wednesday, said economic recovery from COVID-19 over the next decade climate change this time next month during the conference, which finishes on 12 November. 

"The world will be gathering in Glasgow. The commitments to be made at this meeting is crucial," Fiame said on Wednesday.

"Glasgow, therefore, could be the point of no return. 

"Hence, we must continue to push and demand more ambitious and urgent climate action from everyone. 

"The leaders of the Pacific have appointed political climate champions that will lead our engagement on some of our core issues and concerns at the upcoming COP26 negotiations.

"These include climate ambition, environmental integrity, climate finance, loss and damage. And of course oceans, while we understand the challenges with COVID-19 that all our countries are facing. 

"We cannot use that to delay global climate action. The situation emphasises the need to invest in COVID-19 recovery that are climate smart and in line with a low emissions development pathway."

Fiame then pointed out that the development of the COVID-19 vaccines was the fastest in history and she wondered if the same global response could be made for climate change.

"It's rollout around the world at large scale required a massive global coordinated effort. I often ponder on how we can push for this historical united urgent global response at the same massive scale to help us reach the 1.5 degree Celsius promise of the Paris Agreement," she said.

"For us as the Blue Pacific, we need to inject some of that urgency and ambitious actions like what we have achieved with COVID-19 vaccinations to deliver the needed climate action."

Fiame added that the necessary climate finance to help developing countries meet their emissions cuts must be made available.

"Well, we called for COP26 to conclude negotiations on the Paris rulebook, it is important that it adopts a market mechanism which delivers meaningful global emissions reductions," she said.

"We must ensure that we continue to uphold the principle of environmental integrity and keep the Paris Agreement promise. This is key for the region when finalising COP26 outcomes."

When Fiame was asked during the webinar about Samoa's attendance at the COP26 in November, the Prime Minister said that it is very important for the Pacific to have a presence there.

"But here we are. We're meeting virtually and it seems to be the way of the world at the moment. And, you know, we sincerely hope that the hosts could entertain, you know, virtual participation in the workings of the COP26 meeting," she said.