Pacific countries are gathering worldwide support for a permanent but rotating seat for Small Island Developing States - a recognised United Nations international grouping - on the UN's security council alongside more calls to give greater weighting to climate change as a security threat to its members.
The alliance of 73 countries, territories and/or other entities, which together is more than one-third of the UN's total general assembly, are asking for stronger representation for Small Island Developing States on the 15-member security council that comprises of five permanent members - the US, the UK, France, Russia and China - in addition to the 10 non-permanent members.
The Pacific campaign has argued small-island states around the world, despite their limited contribution to global emissions, face serious security threats related to climate change, natural disasters and the loss of their islands.
Fiji is the only Pacific island country recorded as having sought a non-permanent Council seat, applying in 2011 before later withdrawing its bid.
Singapore remains the only small island state from the UN's wider Asia-Pacific regional group to have served on the council while Australia is currently seeking a seat ahead of the upcoming two-year terms.
There are 39 UN-defined Small Island Developing States' countries with a combined population of about 65 million, representing less than one percent of the world's population.
The Federated States of Micronesia has led the charge in arguing that Small Island Developing States required a stronger voice in UN security council decisions.
Speaking for the sovereign countries of the Small Island Developing States, the Federated States of Micronesia's permanent representative, Jeem Lippwe, said climate change had become a paramount security issue for low-lying islands facing a physical loss of their ancestral homelands.
"A council that lacks adequate permanent representation for these vulnerable regions effectively cannot address the defining security challenges," Mr Lippwe said.
The Indigenous Pacific group of 607 islands represents just 75,000 people, but its 702 km2 land mass is one of the most vulnerable countries to the impact of climate change from the threat of rising sea levels.
Timor-Leste's permanent representative, Dionisio Babo Soares, said the perspectives of the Small Island Developing States on climate-related security, disasters and other emerging challenges deserved greater attention.
"We underscored the necessity of a dedicated, non-permanent rotating seat for Small Island Developing States across all regions," Mr Soares said.
"Consistent support is essential to achieve resilience and (our) sustainable development goals."
Australia's permanent representative, Briony Daley Whitworth, has accepted calls for greater representation, specifically for the Asia-Pacific region, including options to strengthen Small Island Developing States' presence.
"Australia supports exploration of ways to enhance cross-regional representation on the council for Small Island Developing States, who bring vital firsthand perspectives on peace and security challenges," she said.
Its position demonstrates diplomatic recognition of the need for stronger representation within the UN security council through a willingness to explore a dedicated rotating seat, which is significant for Pacific island countries seeking more consistent participation throughout global peace and security decision-making.
Any change to the UN security council's structure would require ratification by two-thirds of UN member states, including all five permanent members.
