Pacific leaders to gather for climate change conference

The Minister for Pacific Peoples is applauding the efforts of Pacific nations in reducing global warming, despite the fact they are among the smallest contributors to carbon emissions.

Pacific leaders, climate scientists, academics and civil society leaders are among 240 delegates attending this month's Climate Change Conference in Wellington.

Aupito William Sio, along with Climate Change Minister James Shaw, will address the three day summit which has the theme "Pacific Oceans, Pacific Climate". 

"For our part in New Zealand, we've already set a goal that New Zealand becomes carbon-free by the year 2050," he says. "That's sending a very strong signal to the rest of the world that as small as we are, we're prepared to do our part."

Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and climate change scientist Professor Will Stefan will deliver the keynotes at the conference, starting February 21.