Several non-government organisations in New Zealand are gathering together to increase awareness of the effects of climate change on nations of the Pacific Islands.
TEAR Fund, Oxfam, 350 Aotearoa, the Diocesan Climate Change Action Group, and the Reformed Christian Church of Tuvalu are bringing church leaders from the Pacific to New Zealand to discuss the threat they face.
The Pacific Leaders Climate Tour will come to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. It will host breakfasts for New Zealand church leaders, along with free evening lectures for the general public. The gatherings will discuss how government, businesses and individuals can help New Zealand embrace clean energy.
Reverend Tafue Lusama, founder of the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, will be the main speaker. He says rises in sea levels, along with changes to crops and fisheries are having a direct impact on nations across the Pacific - and the problems are only going to get bigger.
"We're seeing increased suffering in our homelands, and storms such as Cyclone Pam are tearing communities apart with more force than ever."
Dr Murray Sheard, TEAR Fund Education and Advocacy Manager, says climate change could potentially undermine aid and development that has taken place in the Pacific.
"Since 1990, people have lifted themselves out of poverty at a faster rate than ever before, but the more we succeed on development, the more we fail on sustainability. They have to be held together."
Rachael Le Mesurier, Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand, says it makes sense for New Zealand to take on some more responsibility, as the Pacific is suffering.
"Our Pacific neighbours not only carry a disproportionate burden of climate change impact, but climate-related disasters also undermine the long-term development work Oxfam and other agencies are doing in the Pacific. We need to mobilize as many concerned New Zealanders as possible, to speak loudly about this injustice."
The tour will begin in Auckland on Friday 7 August, and then visit Christchurch on Monday 10 August, before finally Wellington on Wednesday 12 August.
Visit www.loveyourneighbournz.org for more details.
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