The French Polynesian president, Oscar Temaru, says he will organise a Pacific environment conference in May or June to develop a regional approach to be tabled at the Pacific Islands Forum in Australia and at the Earth Summit in Copenhagen in December.
The initiative was announced during Mr Temaru's visit to Paris and has the backing of the number two in the French government, the environment minister, Jean-Louis Borloo.
The meeting is to be held in Tahiti and South Pacific countries are
expected to attend to define a common position in order to be able to send a strong message.
No details were given but Mr Borloo says an international strategy will be built around French Polynesia, taking account of what he says is its crucial position in the Pacific.
