Commonwealth nations to discuss slavery reparations, climate change

Apia (Reuters): The leaders of the Commonwealth grouping of nations met on Thursday ahead of a summit in the South Pacific nation of Samoa that will feature talks on climate change and the question of reparations for Britain's role in transatlantic slavery.

King Charles, the head of the grouping, is among the representatives of 56 countries, most with roots in Britain's empire, who are attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that began on Monday.

More than half of the Commonwealth's members are small nations, many of them low-lying islands at risk from rising sea levels caused by climate change.

Among them is Tuvalu, whose climate change minister, Maina Vakafua Talia, urged the grouping to strive for the Paris Accord's warming goal of 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F), calling new fossil fuel projects a "death sentence" for his country.

"We call on our wealthier partners to align themselves with this goal and not fan the flames of the climate crisis with fossil fuel expansion," he said.

Island leaders are expected to issue a declaration on ocean protection at the summit, with climate change being a central topic of discussion.

"Climate change is an existential threat," Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong told a press conference after a meeting with counterparts.

"It is the No. 1 national security threat. It is the No. 1 economic threat to the peoples of the Pacific and to many members of the Commonwealth."

Zambia was among the African countries that warned of the rising impacts of climate change, including the effects on food security, she added.

On Thursday, Charles will be shown the impact of rising sea levels that are forcing people to move inland, a Samoan chief said.