I wish to share with you our experiences as a victim of climate change and the emotions which we as a people feel as we try to reconcile ourselves to the possibility of our future.

Regardless of any arrangements which are put into place in any successor agreement to Kyoto, low lying countries such as Kiribati, Tuvalu, the Maldives and other low lying coastal communities will, in the decades ahead, become less able to support life and will within the century disappear as viable sovereign nations and as a people and a distinct culture.

Over the years we have experienced the increasing severity of the inundation of our shorelines caused by extra high tides. In some parts of the country whole villages have had to be relocated due to severe erosion. Food crops have been destroyed and fresh water contaminated by intruding seawater.

As a government, we face unending claims for assistance to rebuild homes and to repair damages caused by these high tides, which we, of course, do not have the resources to do. Due to the fragile nature of our islands - and average height of two meters above sea level and narrow strips of land less than two km at the widest point and a stone's throw at some - we are especially vulnerable to these tidal surges and indeed any marginal rise in sea level. These are new experiences for us and are not part of the normal weather cycle.

We feel anger, frustration and a deep sense of futility, as we ponder over the causes, who is to blame and what options are there for us to deal with this challenge. As we contemplate the chances of survival for our children and future generations, we become very concerned and depressed. The prospect of losing one's homeland, losing one's identity and culture are indeed staggering realities to fully grasp. We still struggle with the thought.

It is, therefore, imperative that as we discuss the way forward after Kyoto between now and Copenhagen we should take note of the unequivocal message being so loudly communicated through these unnatural events. The low lying island countries represent the frontline in the queue of casualties and if we continue with business as usual then there is no doubt that other countries will be next on the frontline. Can we, as a family of nations and knowing the global nature of climate change and its severe adverse impact on fellow human beings, keep on trading off between considerations for human survival or economic growth with a clear conscience? I, for one, certainly hope the answer is no.

Our response to this greatest moral challenge to humankind will be tested at Copenhagen. I believe that it can only succeed if approached with a desire to make sacrifices and a sense of responsibility not just as leaders of our individual nations but as leaders of a single global community. An effective agreement in Copenhagen should not only include globally affordable mitigation and adaptation measures but should also include strategies to address the plight of those victims of this disaster who will become displaced and without options in the decades ahead. The international community cannot afford not to include this on the agenda for Copenhagen and inaction is definitely not an option in dealing with this human created catastrophe.