Pacific Leaders Put Climate At the Forefront, Say Paris Talks Are Their Last Chance

Before the opening of the annual Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), leaders of the six smallest members teamed up to give Australia and New Zealand a tongue-lashing for their minimal efforts in the war on climate change. 

The five-day forum, which began Monday, comes  six months after Cyclone Pam flattened much of Vanuatu and caused heavy flooding in Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Marshall Islands. Representatives from the Cook Islands, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau and Tuvalu met beforehand to issue a strongly-worded appeal, calling the rest of the world to action. They stated that their islands, some of which are less than 3 feet above sea level, are already suffering from the impacts of climate change. Some villages in Kiribati have already been engulfed by seawater.

“This is our last chance to reach an outcome that must reverse the global warming pathway to ensure the future survival and existence of our nations, people and culture," they said in their plea. They argue that it is crucial for the21st annual Conference of Parties (COP21) talks in Paris in December to result in a binding agreement.

http://www.weather.com/science/environment/news/pacific-island-forum-paris-climate-change-talks-cop21