Australia waters down Pacific Islands plea on climate crisis

Forum's chair describes leaders' 12 hours of talks as 'very, very tough struggle'

Australia stands in opposition to other Pacific Islands nations after distancing itself from language calling for urgent action on climate change at a regional meeting in Tuvalu.

Eighteen leaders including Australia's Scott Morrison, New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern and Fiji's Frank Bainimarama met for almost 12 hours at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), and its chair, Enele Sopoaga, the Tuvaluan prime minister, described the talks as "a very, very tough, difficult struggle".