'Climate change greatest threat to Pacific'

Climate change represents the greatest threat to the people of the Pacific region, a communique issued at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in Auckland said on September 08. The 16-nation grouping said there was a urgent need to look at financing for Pacific nations where people may need to abandon their homes due to the impact of global warming.
"Climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and well-being of the peoples of the Pacific," the communique said. Villagers in some Pacific countries, such as Kiribati, have already had to relocate due to rising sea levels and the forum said practical steps needed to be taken to look at the issue of helping displaced people. It ordered the PIF secretariat to examine how relocation options could be financed, taking into account "the specific capacities and needs of respective countries".
The communique also called for a return to democracy in Fiji, which was expelled from the PIF in 2009 after its military regime reneged on plans to hold elections in the wake of a 2006 coup.
"Forum countries expressed their continuing deep concern at the deteriorating human rights situation and serious political and economic challenges facing the people of Fiji," it said.