Press Release - It's been said that a picture can tell a thousand words. With this in mind, the opportunity for Pacific islands communities to share their climate change impacts with the rest of the World is presented.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has launched a Climate change photo competition so people world wide can visualise what Pacific islanders are up against.

Our Century's challenge is Climate Change and in this instance, our Pacific response is about showing the World how the Pacific is being affected.

"At SPREP we recognise the importance of sharing images of what climate change means for the region. The Pacific is the most vulnerable region to climate change but has contributed the least of all to its causes," said Espen Ronneberg SPREP's Climate Change Adviser."

The Pacific islands region contributes to 0.03% of the World's total greenhouse gas emissions, but is amongst the most susceptible regions to climate change.

Despite the minimal contribution to climate change from the Pacific, there is the commitment to reduce all emissions from this region by 33% with the Pacific Islands Greenhouse Gas Abatement through Renewable Energy Project.

"It is important that we use this opportunity to showcase how devastating the impacts of climate change will be, and to bring those images to the negotiations at the international level. This will provide additional ammunition to the Pacific in their quest for stronger emissions reductions."

There are five different categories for which it is hoped the entry images will portray. These categories are; the fragile beauty of the Pacific islands, Impacts of climate change, Adaptation to climate change, Pacific islands biodiversity; Pacific peoples and cultures.

The Pacific islands are on the front line of the impacts of climate change and by capturing images that show any of the five categories, share the challenges we face with the rest of the world.

SPREP's Pacific Year of Climate Change Campaign Coordinator Ewan Cameron is encouraging Pacific islanders to enter and show the World how climate change is impacting their communities.

"We are keen to showcase the winning photographs, they will be exhibited during the UN climate change conference of the parties in Copenhagen this year. They will also be published in an exhibition catalogue and we'll also award cash prizes."

"We'd really like to get these images out there, so if you think you have an image that will show any one of our categories, then snap it with your camera and send your entry in."

The deadline for all entries is 1 September 2009, and all photo entries must have been taken in any Pacific islands country or territory between 1 January and 30 August, 2009.

For more information and an entry form, please visit: