7 Mar 2016

Tuilaepa identifies climate change as Samoa's main challenge

3:02 pm on 7 March 2016

Samoa's prime minister says his government's biggest challenge in the next term in office is to implement climate change adaptation programmes.

The Human Rights Protection Party of Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi won 44 of the 49 seats in parliament in Friday's election.

Tuilaepa has pinpointed climate change as a leading issue that his island country is grappling with.

"The biggest challenge for the government would be to put in place adaptation projects that would assist the country cope with climate change, and that means it cuts right across all sectors of the economy."

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi says another main challenge is to keep growing Samoa's economy after the moderate but positive growth of recent years in the face of global financial shocks.

A beach in Savai'i, Samoa

A beach in Savai'i, Samoa Photo: RNZI