Small island nations want largest emitters to pay for catastrophic effects of climate change

Our planet is changing. So is our journalism. This story is part of a CBC News initiative entitledOur Changing Planetto show and explain the effects of climate change and what is being done about it.

While all eyes are on the big players at the COP26 summit in Glasgow,the leaders of two small island states are hoping to make history.

The Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda and the Pacific nation of Tuvalu say they are being ignored in the fight against climate change, even though their islands suffer disproportionately.

As the Earth's climate warms, small island nations are becoming increasingly vulnerable to rising sea levels and more intense storms.

The two countries have signed an agreement and hope to bring the case to an international court.

Theirgoal is tomake the largest emitters pay for the damage being causedto small island states.

Payam Akhavan, an international lawyer representingAntigua and Barbuda andTuvalu spoke about the plan duringan interview on CBC's Power & Politics, which you can watch at the top of this page.