MSG leader wants unified Pacific position on climate

The chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group says leaders in the region need to work together to combat climate change.

The comment from Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, comes after his fellow Pacific Islands Forum leaders failed to reach a unified position on the issue.

Most countries had wanted to push for a temperature increase over pre-industrial levels of less than 1.5 degrees celsius at the COP21 meeting in Paris.

But this was opposed by New Zealand and Australia and the Forum concluded with a weaker 'agree to disagree' position.

Mr Sogavare also says leaders of this region must aggressively invest in climate change research and develop robust strategies to implement adaptation measures.

He says the Pacific must rapidly deploy technologies in carbon capture and storage, clean fuel and renewable energy, and reduce the expansion of deforestation through agriculture, forestry and other land use.