Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato says many of the small islands in the Pacific have reached a tipping point as they struggle to cope with the impacts of climate change.
He made the remarks at the United Nations General Assembly saying small island developing states in the Pacific are responding to the challenges by working smarter and harder to improve the livelihoods of people at risk.
A seawall protecting a home from coastal erosion in Kiribati Photo: UNDP / Sheryl Ho
But he said the bigger and advanced countries must re-double their efforts in partnering those countries.
Mr Pato reiterated his call to the international community, including the UN, to work together with small island developing states in the spirit of genuine and durable partnership.
Papua New Guinea has launched its own programme to assist the region's island nations in critical areas like education, health, and the reconstruction of vital infrastructure after natural disasters.