Dandelion Dialogue: Pasifika Women's Climate Talanoa

The Dandelion Dialogue: Pasifika Women’s Climate Talanoa* brings together approximately 20 women climate leaders from approximately 15 Pacific nations for a structured, tradition-led dialogue circle. Building on previous Talanoa sessions, this gathering creates intentional space for Pacific women’s voices to be heard on their own terms — ahead of consequential moments in global climate governance in 2026.

The session will be held in the format of a traditional dialogue circle on the mat, with an inner circle of participants and an outer circle of invited witnesses. This is not a panel discussion. There will be no speeches. We warmly invite you to attend in a witnessing capacity in the “listening circle”. Your role is to listen, without interruption or contribution, as an outer circle witness.

With Australia presiding over COP31 negotiations (co-hosted with and in Türkiye) and a Pacific Pre-COP on the horizon, this dialogue takes place at a pivotal moment for climate leadership. The voices and priorities of Pacific women must be centred — not peripherally consulted — in the decisions that will shape their communities’ futures.

The Pacific is consistently treated as a monolithic region in global climate discourse. It is not. While there is strong, shared regional consensus on the urgency of the climate crisis, the perspectives, interests, and responses vary significantly across different knowledge systems, nations, and communities. This dialogue makes space for that complexity.

* What is Talanoa?

Talanoa is a traditional Pacific Islands concept representing an inclusive, participatory, and transparent form of dialogue used to share stories, build empathy, and make decisions for the collective good. Derived from various Pacific languages and traditions, it involves open, free-flowing conversation — one that builds relationships, solves problems, and exchanges knowledge without the constraints of rigid formal structures.