A Pasifika academic says the Pacific Islands Forum fragmenting would be a lost opportunity to cement the region's global leadership on climate change and oceans.
Micronesian leaders' this week announced their intentions to withdraw from the premier regional body saying they felt sidelined by the larger nations in the Forum after their candidate was snubbed for the organisation's top job.
The University of Auckland's Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific, Damon Salesa, says if the Forum does break up it couldĀ cost the Pacific its emerging role as a moral leader on environmental and climate issues.