The Pacific Innovation Forum on Climate and Environment (PIFCE) will become a biennial regional platform after its inaugural gathering in Vanuatu closed with a regional commitment to strengthen climate innovation and cooperation.
Participants adopted the PIFCE 2026 Resolution in Port Vila, agreeing the forum should continue every two years as a space for climate innovation, knowledge sharing, regional collaboration and environmental action across the Pacific.
The forum brought together more than 500 Pacific leaders, students, entrepreneurs, government officials, civil society groups, private sector representatives and academic institutions.
Vanuatu Minister for Climate Change, Energy, Environment, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards and Disaster Management Ralph Regenvanu said the resolution showed a shared move toward action.
"The adoption of this resolution is more than a procedural outcome," Mr Regenvanu said.
"It represents a shared vision for a stronger, more innovative, more resilient Pacific region.
"It reflects our collective determination to move beyond dialogue into action, implementation, and measurable impact for our communities and future generations."
The decision gives the forum a continuing regional role after its launch as a Pacific-led platform for practical responses to climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and disaster risks.
PIFCE was developed through a proposal by Mr Regenvanu and V-Lab Vanuatu, with support from the Pacific Climate Change Centre and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
The forum focused on locally led climate and environmental solutions, with students, community groups, businesses and governments sharing approaches across resilience, technology, environmental protection and sustainable development.
Mr Regenvanu said Pacific countries would continue to lead through regional cooperation.
"As we depart from Port Vila, let us continue working together as champions and wave makers for climate resilience, innovation, and environmental stewardship across our Blue Pacific Continent," he said.
"The Pacific voice is strong.
"The Pacific vision is clear."
The forum also ended with Enviromesh, an Australia and Vanuatu collaboration, winning the inaugural PIFCE Private Sector Climate and Innovation Pitching Competition.
Enviromesh provides a low-carbon alternative to traditional steel mesh reinforcement for concrete.
The company was selected from five finalists after 10 organisations and businesses contested the semifinal round.
It received a cash prize of AUD $10,000, while the People's Choice award went to Eagle Vetiver Systems from Papua New Guinea.
SPREP Director of Climate Change Resilience Tagaloa Cooper congratulated all entrepreneurs who took part in the competition and said each had contributed to the forum's climate innovation focus.
Fred Kalkaua (centre), ENVIROMESH representative. (Image: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme - SPREP/Facebook)
Young people were also part of the forum through the PIFCE Science Fair Project and Poster Competition, which invited schools from Vanuatu to present projects linked to climate change and environmental degradation.
Students used models, visual displays and interactive presentations to show science-based projects, traditional knowledge and creative responses to environmental challenges.
The competition included a poster category for junior secondary students and a science fair display category for senior secondary students.
Melemaat Junior Secondary School won the poster competition, while Epauto Adventist Senior Secondary School won the project display model category.
Ms Cooper commended the students for showing leadership in climate innovation and said SPREP remained committed to youth engagement in environmental protection and climate resilience.
Tuvalu Minister of Home Affairs and Climate Change Dr Maina Talia said the forum had brought together a broad range of Pacific voices.
"The significance of this forum cannot be overstated," Dr Talia said.
"It has been much more than a conference — it has been a platform that has brought together diverse voices from across our Blue Pacific Continent.
"Every voice has brought unique perspectives, experiences and ideas that enrich our understanding of the challenges we face and the solutions we must pursue."
The biennial decision means the forum will continue as a regional platform for Pacific-led climate solutions, with a focus on moving ideas into action for communities across the region.
