Australia's minister for the Pacific says the country is doing more to combat climate change in the region.
Alex Hawke's comments come a day after the Fiji Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, urged the region's largest economy to reform its climate policies, and move away from coal.
Mr Hawke said his government won't do either of those things, and it won't resume payments to the Green Climate Fund, as urged by small island states yesterday.
Australia's Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Alex Hawke Photo: Liberal Party
But he said his country is helping with a newly-announced half-billion dollar adaptation package.
"I want to thank prime minister Bainimarama for his words yesterday and his very kind encouragement of Australia to do more. Prime minister Bainimarama said yesterday please do more and today prime minister Morrison announced that Australia will do more on climate, will do more through our climate and oceans package," said Alex Hawke.
Alex Hawke said Australia absolutely recognises the threat climate change poses to countries like Tuvalu which hosting this year's Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting.
Donating money does not excuse climate inaction - Tuvalu
Tuvalu's prime minister has welcomed Australia's half-a-billion dollar climate change adaptation package, but says it still doesn't excuse climate inaction.
Australian prime minister Scott Morrison announced the package ahead of his arrival in Tuvalu for the Pacific Islands Forum today.
Tuvalu's prime minister Enele Sopoaga speaking at the opening of the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Funafuti. August 2019 Photo: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
But Tuvalu's Enele Sopoaga, who yesterday chaired a meeting of the region's nine small island states, said while the initiative is welcomed, it needs to be coupled with other commitments.
"I think out of the Forum here in Tuvalu we must push forward, following the declaration, we must push forward and to seek urgent actions, concrete actions by the global community and I certainly wish our colleagues from Australia and others will take heed of this imperative so we can move forward," Enele Sopoaga said.
Mr Sopoaga will hold bilateral meetings with Mr Morrison and New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern tonight.
