FIJIAN military Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama accused world powers today of abandoning Pacific island nations to “sink below the waves” instead of tackling climate change.

Opening a regional summit, he said there was “collective disappointment and dismay” in the Pacific at the failure to address climate change, which scientists blame for rising seas that threaten many low-lying islands.

“The rising sea levels caused by global warming threaten the very existence of some of our neighbours — Kiribati, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands,” he told the Pacific Islands Development Forum.

“They are already swamping coastal areas of many Pacific nations, including Fiji.

“Yet if anything, the collective will of the global community to adequately address this crisis is receding.”

And Mr Bainimarama noted “a distinct change of rhetoric” from Australia since right-wing Prime Minister Tony Abbott was elected last year.

Mr Abbott said earlier this month that he would not adopt any climate policies that would “clobber the economy.”

“I appeal to Australia and other countries not to behave selfishly over the catastrophic prospect facing developing states,” Mr Bainimarama said.

“History will judge you harshly if you abandon us to our apparent fate of sinking below the waves because you don’t want to make the necessary adjustment to your domestic policies.”

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told the conference that climate change was among the greatest challenges facing the world and said Indonesia was allocating £12 million to help minimise its impact in the Pacific.