The Cook Islands prime minister has urged the international community not to be deterred by a minority of countries reluctant to decarbonise.
Henry Puna gave a speech Thursday at the Asia Pacific Energy Leaders' Summit in Wellington.
Mr Puna said that small countries like his were doing their bit to make the transition away from fossil fuels in their energy systems.
But he criticised the US administration for pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Afterwards Mr Puna told Johnny Blades at the summit that he was heartened to hear a range of views, and especially optimism and determination, about responding to climate change.
He began by saying that from the Cook Islands' perspective it was best to not worry too much about what other countries did no the issue.
Former Cook Islands Prime Minister, Henry Puna, was elected Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum in 2021. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
