A Fijian family involved in an international climate case has been told they have no right to go to court to challenge the EU's climate target. 

They're among ten families from around the world suing European authorities over the inadequacy of the target.

The European General Court has dismissed the People's Climate Case, as it has been dubbed, on procedural grounds.

The families involved in the case, with the backing of German charity Protect the Planet, come from Portugal, Germany, France, Italy, Romania, Kenya and Fiji.

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The historic event on Tuesday with Palau, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia renewed Washington's ties to the states. 

But a joint-statement released later made no specific mention of climate change, a key issue for Pacific Island states.

Amy Searight from the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington said the US had instead focused on security cooperation.

"Overall there's not been a huge change in approach. For the Trump administration, the real challenge is climate change, the number one priority obviously for the Pacific Island nations. And the Trump administration is doing nothing on climate change so that's a big mismatch in priority."

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The amount of back pay owed to crew remains alarmingly high despite greater scrutiny from mainstream press and the general public. The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) told Splash today the only remedy for the scourge is for ITF – or a similar body – to have the powers to stop any ship where wages were owed.

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