As rising seas threaten low-lying Pacific Islands, regional leaders call on the world to take climate more seriously

For Pacific islanders, the ocean provides food, jobs, and a deep connection to culture and identity. But climate change is turning it into a threat, because as global temperatures rise, so do sea levels . "When there's a low tide, you'll actually see foundations of homes, you see burial grounds of your ancestors...," said Anne Rasmussen, lead climate negotiator for the Association of Small Island States (AOSIS), adding that higher seas are making some land uninhabitable. This week, a handful of world leaders are in Fiji with ministers and climate negotiators from around 60 countries to discuss the outstanding issues surrounding the UN-led international climate conference that kicks off in Turkey next month.