The United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, sought an urgent meeting with Tuvalu's Prime Minister, Enele Sopoaga, on the eve of the conclusion of negotiations for a new global agreement on climate change.
No details have been released about the outcome of that meeting, but aides to Pacific ministers who are leading negotiations say pressure from bigger and wealthier countries have been "enormous.''
Tuvalu PM Enele Sopoaga at the COP21 climate conference. Photo: ALAIN JOCARD / AFP
But they say Pacific ministers have not given up and are digging in on their red line positions.
Islands Business Magazine says Pacific leaders have been fighting tooth and nail for the inclusion of the below 1.5 degrees target, and loss and damage mechanism in the Paris Agreement.
Island countries are also objecting to the call by some countries for the re-definition of the special circumstances of the vulnerability of Small Island Developing States.