Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama on Wednesday called for urgent international action to address climate change, saying global warming was having a "dire effect" on Pacific nations through rising sea levels and extreme weather events.

While opening a meeting of pacific island developing states in the Fijian resort town of Nadi, Bainimarama said the Pacific nations expected the industrialized world to finally face up to its responsibilities.

"Let me say this to the big polluters -- the big carbon emitters: Whatever the science of climate change, it is you who must respond to global warming, which threatens the very existence of some of our small island developing states," he said. "You need -- for our sakes -- to set targets to curb your carbon emissions. Because the majority scientific opinion has it that you are causing global warming."

Bainimarama said it is unacceptable that the industrialized nations were still unwilling to set binding targets on their emissions of carbon dioxide, which most climate scientists are blaming for rising temperatures.

"It is not good enough to say 'it is all too hard' to put the protection of your own carbon-emitting industries first. It's time for you to place yourself in the position of a citizen of Kiribati, one of the small island developing states whose very existence is under threat," said Bainimarama.

The prime minister said that the Pacific nations also expected the industrialized countries to bear the cost of the adverse effects they were having on the lives of Pacific peoples.

"We are not the carbon emitters, they are. So when we suffer adverse consequences, such as more frequent destructive hurricanes, we believe they should shoulder more of the cost," he said.

The three-day Pacific Preparatory Meeting is one of four across the world leading up the Third International Small Islands Developing States Conference in September 2014. Of the four meetings, one has already been held in Jamaica and two more will be held in Seychelles and Barbados, respectively, later this year, according to Fiji's Ministry of Information.

Delegates to the meeting are expected to have an agenda that includes climate change, natural disasters, poverty alleviation and the proper management of resources. Other topics are expected to include human trafficking, the need for better governance, better social protection and the preservation of traditional cultures and practices. Endi

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