Maina Talia, Tuvalu’s Minister for Climate Change, recently shared with Al Jazeera the urgent battle his nation faces against rising sea levels. He emphasized the critical need for genuine international commitments that would enable Tuvalu’s people to continue living on their homeland amid escalating climate threats.
This Pacific island nation, composed of nine atolls and islands nestled between Australia and Hawaii, is striving to safeguard its sovereignty by pursuing innovative diplomatic strategies on the global stage.
At present, Tuvalu’s immediate challenge is simply to remain above the encroaching ocean.
“Our country sits barely a meter above sea level. Our top priority is reclaiming land, constructing sea defenses, and enhancing our resilience,” Talia explained during an interview at the recent United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“Delays are no longer an option. Access to climate finance is essential for our survival,” he stressed.
“This is not a matter of planning for the next few years; we require urgent support now to effectively respond to the climate emergency,” he added.
In addition to his climate change portfolio, Talia also serves as Tuvalu’s Minister of Home Affairs and Environment. He highlighted that securing financial resources will be a pivotal topic at the upcoming UN COP30 climate summit scheduled for November in Belem, Brazil.
“Polluters Must Bear the Cost”
Tuvalu is among the many nations advocating for enhanced climate financing at this year’s COP summit, following widespread dissatisfaction with last year’s modest $300 billion pledge from wealthier countries during the Azerbaijan meeting.
Criticizing the COP gatherings as increasingly dominated by oil-exporting nations, Talia revealed that Tuvalu is pursuing alternative strategies, including championing the world’s inaugural fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty and seeking UNESCO World Heritage status for its entire cultural legacy.
He noted that representatives from fossil fuel-producing countries now attend COP in large numbers, aiming to suppress the voices of smaller developing nations like Tuvalu.
“They control the narrative, manipulate the negotiation process, dilute critical texts, and obstruct climate finance,” Talia said.
“It’s imperative to remind the world that financial support is vital for our survival,” he asserted.
“The principle remains clear: those who pollute must pay,” he added firmly.
Talia also expressed frustration over the global prioritization of military expenditures while his country faces an existential crisis.
“While we confront this dire threat, it is disheartening to witness billions being funneled into armaments and conflicts worldwide,” he lamented.
According to a recent report by the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), 39 small island nations, home to approximately 65 million people, require around $12 billion annually to adapt to climate impacts.
This demand far exceeds the current collective funding of roughly $2 billion per year, which accounts for a mere 0.2% of global climate finance.
The Rotterdam-based nonprofit also highlighted that these island states suffer an average of $1.7 billion in economic losses each year due to climate change.
Tuvalu’s efforts extend beyond its own survival; it is actively engaged in global climate initiatives.
“This is why Tuvalu is spearheading the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty,” Talia explained.
To date, about 16 countries have endorsed the treaty, with Colombia volunteering to host the inaugural international conference on fossil fuel phase-out next year.
“We recognize the treaty’s significance and aim to expand its membership to establish a binding agreement alongside the Paris Accord,” Talia said.
“Accountability for Industrialized Nations Is Crucial”
Despite its small population of fewer than 10,000 residents, Tuvalu is preparing for an uncertain future by digitally preserving its cultural heritage to ensure it endures even if the islands are submerged.
Talia, who also oversees cultural affairs, revealed that he submitted a formal request to UNESCO two weeks prior to the UN General Assembly to have all of Tuvalu recognized as a World Heritage Site.
“While we hope to avoid disappearance, if the worst occurs, at least our values, culture, and heritage will be safeguarded,” he told Al Jazeera.
He also clarified that Tuvalu’s 2023 cooperation agreement with Australia, which includes the world’s first climate change migration visa, is not a surrender but a strategic pathway.
“The Falepili Agreement is not about abandoning the climate challenge but creating opportunities,” he said.
“It enables Tuvaluans to access quality education and training abroad, with the intention of returning home to contribute,” he added, referring to provisions granting education, healthcare, and unrestricted travel to Australia.
The agreement explicitly acknowledges that “Tuvalu’s statehood and sovereignty will persist, along with all associated rights and responsibilities, despite the impacts of climate change-induced sea level rise.”
Talia also highlighted a landmark ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, which affirmed that nations have a duty to combat climate change through cooperation on emission reductions, honoring climate commitments, and protecting vulnerable communities and ecosystems.
“This judgment has fundamentally shifted the climate discourse,” Talia remarked.
“The highest judicial authority has spoken decisively,” he noted, referencing the case initiated by Tuvalu’s neighbor, Vanuatu.
“The challenge now is integrating this ruling into our climate policies,” he said.
“It is essential to hold industrialized countries accountable for their actions,” he concluded.
