A regional expert says nations are not on track to keep the increase in global average temperature to well below 1.5 degrees celsius as agreed to in the COP Paris Agreement.

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Morgan Wairiu, from the University of the South Pacific addressed the Climate Action Pacific Partnership meeting in Suva this week.

Dr Wairiu said scientists believed that achieving the 1.5 degree celsius target would foster sustainable benefits but human- induced global warming continued to increase.

He said if emissions continued at their present rate, human induced warming will exceed 1.5 degrees celsius by around 2040.

The Fiji Times reports Dr Wairiu is working on a report on the issue which is expected to be released later this year.