Ruth Cross Kwansing has been appointed as the new Pacific Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Climate Champion, a role designed to amplify the voices of women, youth, and vulnerable communities in climate negotiations and resilience planning throughout the Pacific region. This announcement was made on her official social media account.
Kwansing’s appointment was endorsed by Pacific ACP Leaders during the recent 54th Pacific Islands Forum in Honiara and is part of a broader strategy to enhance leadership on critical issues related to climate action, finance, oceans, and resilience. Her role aligns with the commitments laid out in the 2025 Forum Leaders’ Communiqué, which highlights the need for coordinated advocacy and inclusive representation in all climate-related sectors. High-level political climate champions, including Kwansing, function under the One-CROP framework, with climate initiatives orchestrated by the Samoa-based SPREP.
In her new capacity, Kwansing joins an influential group of Pacific leaders who will work with regional experts to establish negotiating priorities for international climate conferences. Her responsibilities include gathering insights from civil society, youth, academia, and the private sector to ensure that Pacific voices are well represented in the upcoming UN climate talks. She follows Mona Ainu’u of Niue, the inaugural GESI Climate Champion known for her vital role in integrating gender equality into Pacific climate policy.
During her recent appearance at COP29 in Baku, coinciding with Climate Action Week 2025, Kwansing delivered stirring remarks that called for inclusive adaptation, asserting, “Pacific women are not only shaping change — we deliver it.” This statement reflects her ongoing commitment to elevating the voices of women and Indigenous peoples in global climate debates while pushing for gender-responsive climate finance that incorporates the lived experiences of Pacific communities into future COP commitments.
Kwansing’s new role highlights a long-standing commitment within the Pacific region to gender-responsive governance, a movement that began with the Pacific Leaders Declaration on Gender Equality in 2012 and has recently been revitalized by the Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration (PLGED). Observers note that her leadership as GESI Climate Champion emphasizes the Pacific’s determination to integrate gender equality into its climate initiatives, especially with the upcoming COP30 set to take place in Brazil next month.
With additional announcements of political climate champions expected soon, Kwansing’s appointment symbolizes a significant step forward in uniting efforts to tackle gender and climate challenges in the Pacific. This development fosters optimism for a future where joint initiatives can lead to substantial progress in both areas, crucial for the region’s resilience in the face of the ongoing climate crisis.