Fiji, July 16 -- Pacific Islands Forum Deputy Secretary General Desna Solofa says the region must improve access to climate finance, warning that global commitments have not translated into funding that Pacific countries can readily access.

Opening the Climate Finance Access and Mobilisation Strategy (CFAMS) Preparatory and Prioritisation Workshop in Nadi on Wednesday, Solofa said climate change has become one of the region's biggest development challenges.

"Climate change is no longer simply an environmental issue. For the Pacific, it is a development challenge, an economic challenge, a fiscal challenge, and ultimately, an existential challenge. It influences every aspect of our economies - from infrastructure and agriculture to health...