The Papua New Guinea MP Gary Juffa says Pacific islands leaders need to take a stronger stand on the impact of climate change and the need for sustainability.
Mr Juffa says Pacific islanders have been too soft in international fora about the devastation being caused to their countries and territories by climate change and sea-level rise.
He says many Pacific people are having to abandon their homes and means of livelihood because of rising sea levels.
"There's massive deforestation taking place in Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. And it's rampant. Land grabbing is taking place, huge corporate entities are moving in. And they're riding on the back of free trade agreements and such agreements that are being imposed upon us by international organisations that are promoting the greed and profit brigade."
Gary Juffa says development driven by foreign corporate interests is exploiting the region's natural resources at an unsustainable rate.
