United Nations Radio

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is strongly committed to supporting Pacific Islands efforts to cope with climate change.

That is the message delivered on his behalf by Noeleen Heyzer, the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission, to the Pacific Islands Forum Summit meeting Alofi, the capital of the small island nation of Niue today.

The Secretary-General says he is heartened that Pacific Island countries are making their voices heard on the subject of climate change and the United Nations shares their concern.

He says that climate change is not science fiction but real and present the Pacific Island Countries are facing its adverse impacts every day.

The Secretary-General says to help these countries better adapt to and reduce the risk of disasters caused by climate change, the United Nations is working to establish an Inter-Agency Climate Change Centre for coordinated UN support to Pacific Island Countries and regional organizations in partnership with the Government of Samoa.

Reporting for UN Radio, I'm Bissera Kostova.

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