Three Pacific COP31 envoys: Stege, Yamuna and Seruiratu

The Pacific climate envoys for COP31 are three people, named in a joint release from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat dated 15 June 2026. Pacific climate ministers endorsed them. They were then appointed in a joint letter from the COP31 President-Designate and the President of Negotiations.

Kristina Eonemto Stege of the Marshall Islands is envoy for Oceania. Her brief is to keep 1.5°C within reach. Ruel Yamuna of Papua New Guinea is envoy for access to climate finance. Inia B. Seruiratu, a member of Fiji’s parliament, is envoy for the ocean.

What each brief covers, and where they sit in the conference

They are to take part in pre-COP meetings in Fiji and Tuvalu and to carry the same advocacy into the negotiations in Antalya. COP31 is set for 9–20 November 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye.

Chris Bowen, Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, said Australia was proud to partner with Pacific nations on the appointments. He said the envoys would advocate for the Pacific and help protect livelihoods, security and wellbeing. “We are stronger together,” he said.

Forum secretary-general Baron Divavesi Waqa said hosting the pre-COP and helping to shape COP31 should place Pacific priorities in the outcomes. The release ties the appointments to adaptation, resilience, loss and damage, ocean protection and climate finance. Under the arrangement described, Türkiye holds the COP31 presidency, Australia serves as president of negotiations, and the Pacific hosts the pre-COP meetings.

Stege is already the Marshall Islands’ climate envoy and has worked for years in climate diplomacy, including with the High Ambition Coalition. Yamuna is Papua New Guinea’s special envoy for climate and environment and an alternate board member of the Green Climate Fund. His task is finance that reaches Pacific countries and the communities most exposed to climate impacts. Seruiratu, previously a global climate champion, is to press for ocean health, coastal resilience and ocean-based climate solutions.