Kofi Annan says climate change threatens the health, economies and political stability of many regions.

Kofi Annan, former UN secretary-general and president of the Foundation Board of the Global Humanitarian Forum, delivers his speech during the opening of the first Global Humanitarian Forum in Geneva, Switzerland (KEYSTONE/Salvatore Di Nolfi).

KOFI ANNAN: In the same way the international community has come together to declare themselves ready to protect populations from genocide, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. It is imperative for us to come together now to tackle the equally grave humanitarian threat of climate change.

Of course, even with a number of decision makers at the forum, Annan acknowledges that climate change is a problem that won’t be solved overnight. But he says changes have been too slow and it is the poor countries that suffer, while the rich countries are the main polluters.

ANNAN: The poor are already suffering. The poor are on the verge. We must have climate justice. We must have climate justice. As an international community, we must recognize that the polluter must pay. And not the poor and the vulnerable.

JAMES BING: Mad? You can say I am mad. Yeah, why wouldn’t I be mad?

“We must have climate justice. As an international community, we must recognize that the polluter must pay. And not the poor and the vulnerable.”

James Bing was one of the young people selected to tell about his region, the Marshall Islands, and how it is affected by climate change.

BING: Due to the rising of sea level, it has taken our sand, our beaches, our trees, our food and most importantly our soil. Where is my soil, ladies and gentlemen? What have you done to it? I want my soil back.

The two-day Global Humanitarian Forum meeting will finish Wednesday. Participants and organizers hope to come away with creative solutions to help the people most affected by climate change.

Alex Helmick, World Radio Switzerland.