At Rio, Olter signs the climate and biodiversity conventions; on 12 June he addresses the Earth Summit as South Pacific Forum chair.

What happened

Olter spoke for the Pacific as chair of the South Pacific Forum. He said the Forum would have preferred stronger climate rules with firm cuts in carbon dioxide, opposed using Pacific islands as dumping or testing grounds for toxic or radioactive waste, and called on France to make its pause in nuclear testing permanent. External Affairs Secretary Resio Moses warned of island nations “slowly disappearing beneath the waves.”