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Australia and New Zealand might be asked to leave the Pacific Islands Forum or face a walkout by other leaders if they do not support stronger action on climate change, Kiribati's president hinted on Tuesday.
Kiribati President Anote Tong told reporters in Port Moresby, capital of Papua New Guinea, that the choice of staying or leaving the forum "would be those of us who feel our interests are being undermined."
"Or should we ask those who have a problem to disassociate themselves," Tong said.
Local media reported on Tuesday that Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott is already facing the prospect of a cold shoulder over his government's climate change policy.
Greenpeace Chief Executive David Titter said Australia and New Zealand are "bad neighbors" and urged the two governments not to try and water down language in a forum statement on climate change to be released later in the week.
"I think it's appropriate for (Abbott) to face a cold shoulder, because he's dealing with cultures and nations and people facing an existential threat and he's not treating them respectfully or responsibly," Titter said.
At a recent Pacific Leaders meeting, Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who is boycotting the summit and instead sending his foreign minister, urged Abbott to abandon the " coalition of the selfish" and put the welfare of the Pacific islands ahead of coal industry interests.
A call for a moratorium on all new coal mines was made by six small island states at the PIF on Monday, however it is unlikely to get the backing of the wider forum of 16 nations.
An Oxfam report released on Monday said Australia and New Zealand are presently regarded as the two worst performing governments when it comes to climate change and are a drag on international efforts.
Oxfam Australia Chief Executive Helen Szoke said the recent natural disasters throughout the pacific should be a wake up call for the two "big brothers."
"However, the two 'big brothers' of the Pacific have largely ignored their neighbors' calls for stronger emissions reduction targets and greater support to meet the challenges of climate change," said Szoke.
The small island nations of the pacific are the most vulnerable to human induced climate change, with the collective leaders aiming to hold the world to restrict the global warming temperature rise to 1.5 degrees, fearing that a two-degree target will risk the existence of many islands.
It has been reported the small island nation of Kiribati has bought land in Fiji in case the country must evacuate and that sea water is encroaching on grave sites in the Marshall Islands.
The EU's climate change commissioner Miguel Canete told reporters that while the Kiribati and the Marshall Islands are small; their voices were loud on the world stage.
"They are very active negotiators and they have a solid case... when you have commitment and passion your voice is heard," Canete said. Enditem
