The Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting begins on Sunday, with heads of government from across the blue continent gathering in Palau for the annual talks.
A wrestle takes place each gathering between the needs of developed powers Australia and New Zealand and the 16 island nations of varied development levels.
All, however, are invested in an improved climate and none more so than host Surangel Whipps Jr.
The Palau president has form holding Australia's feet to the fire on its climate record.
Last year, he lashed Australia as "one of the largest contributors to global emissions through fossil fuel exports, accounting for approximately 4.5 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions".
"As the Pacific region faces the dire consequences of the climate crisis, we urge Australia to demonstrate solidarity and responsibility by the phasing out of coal and gas production and halting approvals of new fossil fuel projects," he told the Lowy Institute.
"We must act boldly today for ourselves, our children and future generations to reverse the trajectory, or as I like to say, turn the boat around on climate change, before it's too late."
While Australia continues to unearth and ship coal and gas in huge quantities, it is supplying plenty of support to the region.
In the past half-decade, it has provided $1.3 billion in climate finance, including renewable energy projects.
There is an expectation of more to come, including towards a Pacific-led resilience facility, perhaps announced at this summit.
Australia's climate record includes a landmark 2023 treaty with Tuvalu, the world's lowest nation and therefore most threatened by sea level rise, including provisions to resettle citizens in Australia.
Canberra also led a losing bid to host this year's global climate summit, COP31, which was roundly championed by the Pacific.
A compromise consolation prize will see lead-up events staged in the region, with Climate Minister Chris Bowen also to serve as President of Negotiations in Turkiye.
Wesley Morgan, a Climate Council fellow and UNSW research associate, said Australia's efforts didn't meet the scale of the challenge.
"Pacific Island countries have been champions for limiting global temperature rise for decades ... the catch-cry has been 1.5 to stay alive," he said.
"We are certain to go past 1.5 degrees but the question is how the world responds and the expectation will be that Australia and the Pacific will issue a leader-level declaration on limiting overshoot.
"That is a line in the sand for survival for Pacific countries: 1.5 degrees."
Another issue unlikely to get much air time from the summit is development.
This year's host is one of the smallest Pacific nations but one of the region's richest, given its natural blessings and association with the US.
Other states close range to Australia, like Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, are among the world's least developed.
Central to human security is economic development and foreign aid, with Australia the most generous regional partner.
Save The Children Pacific regional director Kim Koch told AAP Australia's decision not to cut aid was welcomed in the context of other major powers, led by the US, slashing their budgets.
"That has really helped insulate the Pacific from these development hits," she said.
The scale of the need is vast.
Ms Koch said Pacific children faced one of the world's highest rates of violence and battled food insecurity.
"The important message here is that regional security is human security," she said.
"If you're trying to fight for a prosperous and stable future of the Pacific, its going to depend on whether today's children grow up safe, healthy, educated, resilient.".
This year's 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Koror, Palau runs until September 4.
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