UN Secretary General backs Pacific calls for action on climate change

[Stacey King]

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Sept.7 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday gave his ringing support to Pacific leaders, calling for urgent global action on climate change.

Ban said his visit to the Solomon Islands and Kiribati before arriving in New Zealand for the 42nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting had "reinforced my belief that climate change is happening and we must take action now."

"I'm here to continue sounding the global alarm about climate change," he said at a press conference with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, who is chairing the event, on the opening day of the meeting.

Ban said he had a "much keener sense" of the problem after talking with Pacific leaders and seeing the effects for himself.

"I support their calls for more concerted action," he said.

"Climate change is not about what might happen tomorrow. This is about what is happening now today."

Ban also said the UN might be able to play a role in investigating alleged human rights abuses in Fiji, saying the United Nations was committed to supporting human rights.

Asked why the UN accepted Fijian troops in peacekeeping operations given the allegations against the military regime in Fiji, Ban said every soldier's record was carefully vetted before they were accepted.