11 Mar 2016

NZ called on to help Pacific countries access GCF

11:59 am on 11 March 2016

The New Zealand government is being called on to push for more Pacific nations to get support from the UN's Green Climate Fund.

A child on Kiribati watches the sunset on an ever rising ocean.

A child on Kiribati watches the sunset on an ever rising ocean. Photo: Courtesy of UNICEF New Zealand

Opposition Labour party member Su'a William Sio made the comments after the Cook Islands became the first in the Pacific to get money through the GCF.

The money is intended to help vulnerable nations adapt to climate change.

He said the New Zealand government must lead the charge to ensure all Pacific Island nations can easily access this support to strengthen their climate change capacity.

Su'a asked what was the point of having $US6.8 billion dollars ear-marked for climate change adaptation if the Pacific Island countries, who were fighting for their very survival, struggled to access it.

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