Oxfam Australia and Climate Action Hobart (CAH) gave a voice to people living in the Pacific Islands through a creative stunt highlighting the devastating impacts of climate change and the need to assist countries in adapting to climate change.

Oxfam supporters were joined by polar bears, penguins and palm trees highlighting the human impacts of climate change and sending messages to Australia’s political leaders.

It’s clear that Australia’s political leaders need to listen to our neighbours in the Pacific as they are already feeling the effects of climate change. Island states such as Tuvalu and Kiribati are more vulnerable to climate change through increased levels of hunger, thirst and disease and emergencies such as floods and droughts.

Climate change is already negatively affecting the lives and livelihoods of poor men and women living in the Pacific. Australia needs to contribute its fair share of financial assistance to help these people adapt to climate change.

The stunt coincided with the opening of Tarawa Climate Change Conference in Kiribati which brings vulnerable countries together to discuss how they can have their voices heard at the United Nations Climate Change negotiations in Mexico starting in late November.