The new head of the Samoa-based regional environment agency, SPREP, says he will work towards persuading key polluting countries to adopt policies to deal with climate change.
Asterio Takesy, who is from the Federated States of Micronesia, says while for example the US government rejects the Kyoto Protocol, there is increasing public awareness of the threats posed by climate change.
Mr Takesy says while SPREP wants to educate the grassroots, there is sympathy for its concerns among members of the US Congress.
"It's very difficult for people to close their eyes to the effect of climate change that is happening not just around the world but in the United States itself"
Asterio Takesy
