Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has made a special plea to the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to impose a moratorium on the development of further reserves of Australian coal.

Speaking at the closing of the 2015 Pacific Ministerial consultation on climate change and health in Nadi last night, Bainimarama says he is very encouraged by the recent groundswell of public opinion within Australia calling for a ban on new coalmines and the expansion of existing ones.

This includes an appeal by 61 prominent Australians for such a ban to be placed firmly on the agenda of the Paris summit.

Bainimarama says there is no place for coal mining in a world that desperately needs cleaner energy to halt the present rate of global warming.

Bainimarama pleaded with Turnbull to take good on his previous strong stance in favour of deep and binding cuts in carbon emissions and not do deals with those who have enabled him to gain high office and betray his principles and the Pacific’s position.

He also pleaded with Turnbull to put the welfare of the Pacific people and their very existence before his energy sector.