10 Dec 2018

Nauru President calls on world leaders to act on climate change

7:24 am on 10 December 2018

The President of Nauru Baron Waqa has called on world leaders to act now on climate change at the UN climate summit in Poland.

Baron Waqa, President of Nauru

Baron Waqa, President of Nauru Photo: RNZI / Koro Vaka'uta

Speaking at the high-level segment of the summit, Mr Waqa asked leaders and delegates how they wished to be remembered.

He said if they don't act now the next generation of leaders surely will.

The summit is focused on the Paris Agreement and finding ways to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees celsius above pre industrial times.

Mr Waqa said more than 10 million more people would be exposed to sea-level rise if temperatures rose by two degrees by 2100.

He said with an increase of 1.5 degrees some coral reefs would be able to adapt, while at two degrees their chances of survival were next-to-none.

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