Fiji's prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, has again criticised Australia for refusing to sign up to binding cuts on carbon emissions.
Mr Bainimarama was speaking in Thailand at a meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
He has thanked the European Union for its insistence on a 40 percent cut in global emissions by 2030, but restated that countries, such as Australia, are part of a coalition of selfish who are dragging their feet.
Mr Bainimarama says island countries are at risk.
"It's the carbon footprint of the developped nations that are the problem, and the onus must be on them to act and act immediately to reduce those emissions and give those of us in the Pacific a fighting chance."
The ESCAP meeting has chosen Mr Bainaimarama as its chair for a one-year term.
Fiji PM assumes chairmanship of ESCAP Photo: AFP
