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The threat of rising sea levels due to climate change has become very worrying to islanders in the Maldives and Papua New Guinea.

Last weekend, the President of the Maldives held a cabinet meeting under the Indian Ocean to draw attention to the problem.

Whilst on the seabed, the ministers wore scuba gear and signed a document calling for global cuts in carbon emissions.

But climate change is an even more urgent problem for the residents of the low-lying Carteret Islands in Papua New Guinea.

Last Christmas, sea water flooded the islands and most of the cultivated land was destroyed.

Now an evacuation plan is in place.

The first five families are moving to the island of Bougainville at the end of this month. Eighty-three other families will have to follow soon. Ursula Rakova is leading the evacuation. She spoke to Matthew Bannister to explain the situation.

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Ursula Rakova video message

Ursula Rakova speaking at the recent Earth-summit on the Isles of Scilly.