A highly anticipated meeting between Pacific Island countries, on climate change and disaster risk management concluded yesterday in Nadi, Fiji, in a new joint effort to represent the concerns of the countries in a region that is most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and sea level rise.

Representatives from all the Pacific Islands gathered in Nadi, Fiji on Monday July 8, for the four day meeting hosted by the Fijian Government.

The meeting dubbed by the Pacific Secretariat as an “historic” occasion, brought together the “Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management” and the “Pacific Climate Change Roundtable”, in an event that will help Pacific Island countries to develop a new framework by 2015. A new joint effort will replace the current frameworks for Disaster Management and Action on Climate Change.

The Pacific Secretariat's Director General, David Sheppard told Pacific Island representatives at the meeting that, “In our region, our leaders have continually reminded us of climate change and that it is in fact an issue of national security”.

“…a unified and effective strategy will support a stronger, more integrated and hopefully more effective case to be made by our Pacific representatives at international forums. This makes it imperative that we strengthen the links and conduits between those that represent us at the global level and those who work on the ground to implement climate and disaster related programs”

Sheppard told representatives about the Pacific’s vulnerability to climate change and natural disaster.

“Although Pacific Countries only contribute 0.03% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, our countries are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and sea level rise”

“We are the first to be impacted and will be the first to go under.”

The meeting is jointly organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.

Tonga's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. Samiu Vaipulu, attended.