The government of Kiribati has launched what it calls its first ever climate change policy.
In a statement, the government said it had a strong mission to safeguard the present and future existence of Kiribati in light of the impacts of climate change and related disaster risks.
A child on Kiribati watches the sunset on an ever rising ocean. Photo: Courtesy of UNICEF New Zealand
It said the policy outlines the current situation and depicts the vulnerabilities of Kiribati and its people with emphasis on the need to catalyze action through a whole-of-country approach.
The policy also recognises the severe impacts of climate change and both its sudden and slow onset that become barriers towards achieving Kiribati's development aspirations as a country and people.
However the government said action undertaken at the international level has been disappointingly slow.
No other details were given.
