Calls for more action on climate change

A group of young New Zealanders is urging the government to take more action to protect the country from climate change.

High tides damaged Betio Hospital in Kiribati earlier this year - and the country is preparing for a higher rate of damaging waves in future. Photo: Kiribati Ministry of Health

The eight, who will form the country's youth delegation at upcoming UN climate talks, campaigned in Wellington this afternoon to demand better leadership.

Group spokesperson Natalie Jones said the government's proposal to reduce the country's emissions to 11 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 was embarrassing.

Ms Jones said her generation needed to push for more action.

"Climate change poses a huge risk to our way of life here and because we're all young people - we're all eight of us in our 20s - climate change is going to affect us for the rest of our lives," she said.

"It's going to affect everyone our age around the world, everyone younger, and future generations to come."

The youth delegates hoped to raise awareness before travelling to the climate conference in Paris in December.

Islands stand strong on climate change

Meanwhile, Oxfam has said it is pleased Pacific Island governments are demanding more action to stop climate change - but, it said, New Zealand is not doing enough.

The leaders of small island nations held their ground this week at the Pacific Islands Forum as Australia and New Zealand sought consensus on a global warming target limit of 2°C.

The Pacific Island leaders had called for a limit of 1.5°C, as their countries are directly threatened by rising sea levels and more severe tropical storms.

Media await leaders at the 46th Pacific Islands Forum in Papua New Guinea (September 2015).

Traditional performers at the opening of the Pacific Islands Forum in Port Moresby.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key arrives at the Pacific Islands Forum.

John Key is greeted by Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato.

Tonga Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva arrives in Port Moresby.

The forum's 16 member countries include Australia and New Zealand.

Island leaders press their case for a greater response to climate change by developed countries.

Delegates listen to the small island state leaders' climate change concerns.

Niue Premier Toke Talagi and Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key

Prime ministers and presidents pose for a photograph ahead of the leaders' retreat on 10 September.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott in Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill with Kiribati's President Anote Tong.

Palau's President Tommy Remengesau (left) and Nauru's President Baron Waqa (right).

The leaders at the end of the 2015 Pacific Islands Forum in Papua New Guinea.

Oxfam New Zealand policy adviser Luke Broughton said the flooding from rising seas in Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Marshall Islands was evidence that global warming was threatening their existence.

New Zealand was not doing enough, he said.

"We're seen as being leaders in the Pacific region and if we can't agree on such a fundamental question of survival for our Pacific neighbours then I think there are really hard questions we need to be asking of ourselves," Mr Broughton said.