Paris climate talks our last chance, say Pacific leaders

Pacific leaders said on Monday that upcoming climate talks in Paris are the last chance for the world to reach an agreement that can save their vulnerable island nations.

The leaders of the six smallest members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) said they were among the hardest hit by climate change, and a binding agreement at the so-called COP21 talks in December was crucial. Meeting before the annual PIF summit formally opens in Port Moresby tomorrow, representatives from the Cook Islands, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau and Tuvalu issued a strongly worded plea to the rest of the world to act.

“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.