Pacific Wisdom for Global Ethical Stocktake: A Pre-COP Side Event

This pre-COP official side event will explore the Pacific’s role in driving ethically-grounded climate action, with a focus on the Global Ethical Stocktake (GES) initiative. The program features Anote Tong, former President of Kiribati and current pro tempore GES leader, Reverend James Bhagwan of Pacific Conference of Churches, Dame Meg Taylor, former Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, and Joeteshna Zenos, Pacific Climate Finance and Development Practitioner. Samira Siddique, director of strategic initiatives at Center for Earth Ethics, will moderate. Established in 2025 under COP30 leadership, the GES invited youth, elders, Indigenous leaders, artists, philosophers, scientists and faith representatives to reflect on the deeper values that should guide climate responses. The Oceania Dialogue, one of six regional gatherings, centered Pacific voices, assessing climate progress through an ethical lens and offering a values-based complement to the Paris Agreement’s Global Stocktake. As the GES develops, this event will present a moral vision for achieving 1.5°C.