THE Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission has called on the media to interact with them on a regular basis to ensure negative or sensational reporting is eliminated.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, SOPAC director Dr Russell Howorth said there had been recent negative press from the media outside of the Pacific Islands about the vulnerability of our islands to climate change and sea-level rise.
"These media and others have made reference to a recently published article in an international scientific journal co-authored by a senior staff member of the SOPAC Secretariat," he said.
"The article addresses ongoing change in shape, size and position on the reef platform of 27 low-lying coral islands on four atolls over the past 19 to 61 years based upon studies of historic air photographs and recent high-resolution satellite imagery.
"In no way does it make sweeping conclusions that the vulnerability of our islands is reducing particularly with regard to predictions, about future impacts of sea-level change."
The media report in question appeared in the Fiji Times on June 5 titled "Isles not sinking" and written by Rowan Callick, The Australian's Asia-Pacific editor.