Tonga's Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano has repeated a call for a formal group of small island developing states within the United Nations.
He told the UN General Assembly in New York it would be a coherent and practical move and would improve links within the UN system.
Lord Tu'ivakano says such a grouping would help the states deal with the unique challenges they face.
"We must have a definition that separates and addresses the diversity of size, population, remoteness, isolation and different levels of social economic development."
Lord Tu'vakano said he was pleased the UN Security Council had held an open debate on the impact of climate change and it must continue to lead on that issue.
