Pacific nation maritime protection deal

Pacific Island nations have again pressed countries including Australia for meaningful action on climate change.

Tuvalu's prime minister has reiterated the importance of averting complete climate disaster at a Pacific Islands Forum summit attended by leaders including Scott Morrison.

"Climate change remains the greatest ... threat to the blue Pacific continent without economies doing more in terms of meaningful climate action," outgoing forum chair Kausea Natano said on Friday.

"(It) is imperative now more than ever noting the current trajectory of global warming.

"Sea level rise continues to threaten the very core of our existence, our statehoods, our sovereignty, our people and our identity."

Australia remains under international pressure over its longstanding reticence to commit to a target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

Mr Morrison previously said he would like to achieve this as soon as possible and preferably by the middle of the century.

Tuvalu at the forum acknowledged the provision of COVID-19 vaccines by Australia and New Zealand.

US President Joe Biden spoke about the twin crises of climate change and the pandemic.

"Pacific island nations know better than anyone that averting the worst effects of climate change is going to save lives," he said in a pre-recorded speech.

"Or to put it another way, if we don't, we're going to lose a lot of lives."

Mr Biden touted his country's provision of more than 80 million vaccine doses to other nations including in the Pacific and flagged more were on their way.

The forum marked 50 years to the week that Australia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga met in Wellington to speak on "matters of common interest".

It followed a special online leaders' retreat in February.

The leaders were considering a draft declaration on preserving maritime zones in the face of sea-level rise related to climate change, and discussing the COP26 climate talks to be held in Glasgow in November.

An in-person PIF leaders' retreat is planned for Fiji in January 2022.

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