On 24 September 2025, Australian Ambassador Ian Biggs and Dr Christine Biggs hosted the Embassy’s flagship climate diplomacy event, 'Australia and the Pacific: Culture, Climate and Connection', at Urania Kino in the heart of Vienna.
Approximately 150 guests from Austria and the diplomatic community in Vienna attended the event, which centred on a screening of the documentary 'The Forgotten Pacific'. The film highlights five Pacific island countries and explores how local communities are combining indigenous knowledge with modern approaches to adapt, rebuild, and respond to the impacts of climate change.
Dr Elisabeth Worliczek, Chair of the Austrian South Pacific Society, attended the reception and film screening, sharing with attendees her organisation’s work in promoting Pacific voices and culture in Vienna.
Australia is a Pacific nation. Our connections across the Blue Pacific Continent are grounded in personal, cultural and community ties, as well as a shared commitment to peace, stability and prosperity. We reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to working closely with Pacific partners to strengthen these bonds and support the sovereignty and resilience of the region.
Looking ahead, Australia and its Pacific partners are working towards co-hosting COP31 in 2026. A Pacific COP would bring global attention to Pacific leadership on climate change in the face of this existential threat and ensure that the voices, experiences and expertise of the Pacific contribute directly to shaping meaningful global action, delivering lasting benefits for the people of the Pacific, Australia and the world.
The event was complemented by a photography exhibition showcasing images from Fiji, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The exhibition depicted daily life in the Pacific and highlighted examples of Australia’s development assistance, particularly in support of climate adaptation and resilience.
