FIJI, Oct. 8 -- United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has called on the world to match Pacific leadership on climate change with urgent action on emissions, adaptation and finance, warning that communities least responsible for the crisis cannot continue carrying its greatest costs.

Mohammed told Pacific leaders at the Pacific Pre-COP31 plenary in Nadi that the future Pacific nations had warned about for decades had arrived.

"For decades the Pacific has warned the world about the future of nations if we cross the planetary boundaries. And that future has arrived," she said.

She said rising seas, retreating coastlines, saltwater intrusion, extreme heat, destructive storms and warming oceans were already threatening Paci...