Samoa's prime minister has called on Pacific Island countries to introduce emissions reduction targets that will ensure they don't exceed a maximum temperature rise of 1.5 degrees celsius over pre-industrial levels.
PCCC2018 team organisers with keynote speaker Samoa PM Tuilaepa (centre) and VUW’s Pala Molisa, James Renwick, Luamanuvao Winnie Laban and SPREP's Kosi Latu. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Dominic Godfrey
A global 1.5 degree target is what the Pacific has been advocating to combat climate change.
Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, who is the current chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, said the region needed to address its own climate issues if it is to call on the rest of the world to address their emissions.
Tuilaepa was speaking at the Pacific Oceans Climate Change Conference in New Zealand's capital.
He told the Wellington audience that climate change was a reality that the Pacific faced every day.
He said Samoa was on track to achieve 100 percent renewable electricity generation by 2025 as part of its commitment to the 1.5 degree target.