PIDF

The Development Forum was set up by Fiji when it was suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum in 2009 following the Frank Bainimarama led coup of 2006.

The Solomon Star reports a statement from the Secretariat said the postponement of this year's event came after a request from the host and chair, Solomons Prime Minister Rick Hou.

The reasons for the move have not been made clear.

The meeting had been planned to coincide with the country's 40th anniversary celebrations as well as the Melanesian Arts Festival.

The conference organized by Pacific Island Development Forum (PIDF) will build on and incorporate the principles of green growth or green economy.

PIDF secretary general, Francois Martel, says the conference aims to build a road map to sustainable development and blue economy.

In his opening speech Milner Tozak, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Solomon Islands said Solomon Islands is delighted to be chairing the Blue Economy conference.

The Queen’s Young Leader Award recognises and celebrates exceptional people aged 18-29 from across the Commonwealth, who are taking the lead in their communities and using their skills to transform lives.

PIDF Secretary General, François Martel said the dedication and innovation of exceptional young Pacific people making a positive impact in the lives of others and within their communities especially for common Pacific issues, such as social justice and climate change, deserves recognition.

For these small Pacific Island Nations, they are already feeling the effects of climate change and they hope that the time to act is now then later.

He has been in the front line when it comes to being the voice of the Pacific on climate change.

This PIDF meeting is again an avenue for Anote Tong to raise his concern on the topic.

He told members of the PIDF that climate change now affects everyone in the World and there is a need to work together.

Pacific Island Development Forum members were also given an insight of what other countries in the world are facing in their fight against climate change.

They were urged that the best way forward is to look for a common solution that will be able to address all of the current problems.

Marshall Islands Foreign Affairs Minister Tony de Brum said the Pacific needed the PIDF because the former South Pacific Commission set up to look after the Pacific couldn't do so because of influence from donors such as US and UK.

He said donors gave funds with strings attached and it prevented regional organisations from doing what they were initially set up for. This, he said, had happened again to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and there was a need to have the PIDF.

He says he had hoped Australia would have done better in its target of reducing emissions by between 26 and 28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.

"I have a simple message today for the Australian Prime Minister: Mr Abbott, it is time to put the welfare and survival of your Pacific Island neighbours before the expansion of your existing coal industry and your continuing reliance on this dirtiest of energy sources. The other day, the President of Kiribati, His Excellency Anote Tong, described Australia's loyalty to coalmines as selfish and I couldn't agree more."

The forum is being held next week in Suva, Fiji and has been established to discuss critical issues in sustainable development for the people of the Pacific, with the theme this year of “Building Climate Resilient Green Blue Pacific Economies”.