Small Pacific island states have vowed to push for a commitment to limit the rise in average global temperatures to 1.5 degrees,  despite the opposition of Australia and New Zealand at Thursday’s Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ retreat.

Tony Abbott arrived in Port Moresby on Wednesday night after climate change dominated pre-retreat discussion among the other 15 leaders, with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill insisting there was strong support for the forum to have a “single position” on the issue.

The people who are at the greatest risk did not cause climate change, but they suffer because of it.

Mr O’Neill said the views already expressed in two pre-forum declarations supporting the 1.5 per cent target, rather than the 2 per cent preferred by Australia and New Zealand, would be “very seriously considered” at the retreat.