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Climate change is one of the most pressing political, economic and environmental issues of our time. It demands honest and timely collective global actions. Despite the ever-rising environmental catastrophes that are occurring around the world from destructive hurricanes, cyclones and flooding to sea level rise, coastal erosion, drought, fire, and sea acidification, there are climate change deniers who argue that climate change is not posing the kind of danger that is being put forward. Yet, if the global community does not take drastic measures now, climate change could result in many of the Pacific island nations being wiped from the map of the world in the not so distant future. The small island nations of the Pacific region are more vulnerable to the acute effects of climate change than any other region in the world. Most of these volcanic islands are barely a few metres above sea level (ADB, 2019). Ocean level rise amongst other climatic changes is threatening the very existence of these geographically isolated and small land masses. ‘The rising scale and the intensity of storm surges, saltwater intrusion and coastal destruction of the past decades have decimated coping capacities, leaving island populations with failing crops, crippling water shortages and an uncertain future’ (Hassan and Cliff, 2019). The existential threat of environmental change is irrefutably claiming land and human lives year-in and year-out.

Furthermore, for many Pacific Island states, ‘the current forecasts for rising sea levels due to climate change will severely impact their territory’ (Wyeth, 2017). Countries such as Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Marshal Islands are already experiencing sea level rise where ocean flooding has washed saltwater onto agricultural lands and inundated sources of drinking water. These low-lying islands do not have forest cover therefore ocean level is rising at a much faster rate (Goulding, 2015). Realizing the severity and destructive nature of climate change, the Pacific island states have been vocal advocates for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and active supporters of the Paris Agreement. ‘Pacific leaders are increasingly placing a strong emphasis on Pacific coalitions or political groupings as a means to accentuate a pacific voice in the climate change regime at the global level’ (Carter, 2015, p. 206).

For Pacific islanders both land and ocean have a huge economic, political and cultural significance. The region has an ‘ocean-based economy focused on maritime transportation and shipping, fisheries, extractive industries and prospecting for oil and gas as well as tourism’ (Coelho, 2019). In 2016 alone, the revenue generated through fishing licensing stood at US$474 million, which ever since has been growing steadily. Tourism industry, where the tourists flock to these unspoilt natural beauties of the islands, generates up to 70 per cent of any Pacific........

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