Small island nations have called for an insurance program covering climate change, as new data shows the Arctic sea ice melted at a record pace during the northern summer.

The sea ice lost an average of almost 92,000 square kilometres per day in August, the fastest recorded loss for the month, according to a World Meteorological Organisation report.

Many regions have faced extremes of drought, floods, heat and cold, the report says.

The Alliance of Small Island States has previously proposed cover for tropical storms, hurricanes, floods and droughts.

It renewed its call at United Nations climate talks in Doha, Qatar, last week. It says higher risks in island nations often make insurance prohibitively expensive, if it is available at all.

Talks with the private sector suggest new insurance markets and products may be created if risks can be spread over a large enough pool, the alliance says.

It also calls for a mechanism to compensate for slow-onset climate impacts, including rising sea levels, ocean acidification and desertification.

Industrialised countries should give financial backing to the plans, the group says.

Malia Talakai, lead negotiator for the alliance, told media the island nations want help with “issues that aren’t our doing… we are trying to say that if you pollute, you must help us”.

The alliance wants to acquire more data about weather hazards to guide country-specific risk reduction measures.