Pacific leaders

President Obama hears concerns of Pacific and Caribbean leaders

The meeting is an attempt by both Parties to explore options on key negotiating positions of small and vulnerable nations at the frontline of climate change.

The meeting on the margins of the COP21 conference in Le Bourget was ‘useful’ according to President Tong.

The three Pacific Leaders invited to the talk, Kiribati, Marshall Islands and Papua New Guinea – put to President Obama the need for ‘loss and damage’ and the global temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees’ in the proposed Paris Agreement.

Pacific leaders renew urgent calls for ambitious and legally binding agreement

Instead, he's asked the more than 160 world leaders here in Paris for the 21st Session of the Conference of Parties (COP21) of the UN climate change body to choose wisely and agree to an ambitious and legally binding agreement.

Pacific leaders ready to address the world

President of Kiribati, Anote Tong leads the batting order when the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference starts on Monday.

He is speaker number 13 in a line-up of speakers that has American President Barack Obama as speaker number 3 and Russian leader Vladimir Putin as the 9th speaker.

France Oceania summit recognises PIDF

Called the France Oceania Summit, most leaders of the Pacific attended including the founder and current chair of the PIDF, Prime Minister of Fiji, Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama.

Also in attendance was the new Secretary General of the PIDF Francois Martel and his climate adviser Dr Mahendra Kumar. 

Global goals for sustainable development, a roadmap to Pacific prosperity

On this day, 193 world leaders, including all Pacific leaders, have committed to pursue 17 Global Goals, intended to achieve three extraordinary things in the next 15 years: end extreme poverty; fight inequality and injustice; address climate change. 

The Global Goals for Sustainable Development could get these things done. In all countries. For all people.

Aust minister's climate quip draws ire of Pacific leaders

Immigration minister Peter Dutton was yesterday speaking with the country's Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, who had just returned from the Pacific Islands Forum Summit in Papua New Guinea, where climate change was a key focus.

Noting that the meeting was runing late, Mr Dutton remarked that it was running to "Cape York time", to which Mr Abbott replied, "we had a bit of that up in Port Moresby."

Mr Dutton then responded: "Time doesn't mean anything when you're about to have water lapping at your door," to which both Mr Dutton and Mr Abbott laughed.

Pacific leaders urged to reduce trade agreements

The advice came from Dr Edwini Kessie when he addressed Pacific leaders who are members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) bloc of states that met in Port Moresby in the lead up to the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders summit this week.

Dr Kessie is the Chief Trade Adviser for the Pacific Islands, overseeing the Forum member nations’ free trade agreement negotiations on PACER Plus with Australia and New Zealand.

As a region, Dr Kessie said the Pacific has too many trade agreements that are overlapping and costly.

Tuna fishery high on Pacific leaders' minds

The state of the world's only healthy tuna fishery is high on the agenda for Pacific leaders, who are in Papua New Guinea's capital Port Moresby for the annual Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting.

Prime Minister John Key and Foreign Minister Murray McCully arrive today ahead of the main talks tomorrow and Thursday.

Pacific leaders will be putting their heads together to work out how to maximise revenue from the Pacific's US$4 billion a year tuna catch – and ensure more of it stays in the region.

PIDF leaders to map out strategic plan

For these small Pacific Island Nations, they are already feeling the effects of climate change and they hope that the time to act is now then later.

He has been in the front line when it comes to being the voice of the Pacific on climate change.

This PIDF meeting is again an avenue for Anote Tong to raise his concern on the topic.

Pacific Islands Forum is stronger says Australia

Bainimarama in his opening message at the Pacific islands Development Forum said Australian and New Zealand needs to stop undermining the PIDF by actively lobbying governments and leaders of the South Pacific to not attend the Summit.

In a statement sent to FBC NEWS, the Ausralian High Commission says the PIF is stronger when it represents all of the Pacific region and works with one voice.