Climate change threatens Pacific Islands’ existence
Australia’s neighbouring nations are set to be swamped by flooding and disease in the event of climate change. A CSIRO report released today has warned that a rise in temperature in just two degrees could have a catastrophic impact on the Pacific Islands. A new coalition of aid groups, called “The Climate Change and Development Round Table” commissioned this report. Members include Oxfam, Caritas, World Vision and . They say that attempts to end poverty in the Asia- Pacific region will fail unless the Australian Government tackles climate change and prepares for its effects. The Wire spoke with Reverend Jason Kioa, a Uniting Church moderator and memeber of the new coalition, about the effect of climate change in the Pacific, particularly in his country of origin, Tonga.