Tuvalu’s Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Home Affairs, Maina Talia urged the global community to prioritise climate change as the most significant threat facing Tuvalu and other Pacific Island developing states.
In a press conference at the start of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting on Monday, Minister Talia emphasised the urgent need for immediate and decisive action to combat the rapidly approaching climate crisis.
“The science is very clear,” said the minister.
“Global greenhouse gas emissions are rapidly approaching the critical 1.5 degrees’ threshold. If we continue with business as usual, life will become increasingly difficult for the vulnerable populations across our islands.”
He expressed the severe challenges that climate change poses to the resilience of Pacific Island nations, noting that their ability to cope, adapt, and respond is being severely tested.
“We are gradually losing our capability and capacity to bounce back and respond effectively,” he said, underscoring the importance of mitigation as the key to survival and prosperity.
“The more we mitigate, the less we have to conduct.”
The minister also called for a just transition for Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) as they strive to meet their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and move towards net-zero development.
He stressed that rising sea levels, particularly on low-lying atolls like Tuvalu, pose an extreme threat, making it increasingly difficult to sustain life.
“Our lands are becoming inundated. This situation demands serious attention and must be prioritised in our global agenda and, of course, in the region,” he said.
The climate change minister also urged a shift away from colonial frameworks that have historically divided the Pacific region into Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia.
He argued that building a resilient Pacific requires dismantling these colonial legacies and embracing traditional knowledge and practices.
“We cannot build a resilient Pacific if we continue to uphold this capitalistic idea. If we are to build better and stronger, we must do it in the Pacific way,” he said.
He said resilience in the Pacific is rooted in the concept of “mana,” a traditional form of power and spiritual strength.
“Resilience is mana, and mana is power. We must not forget that.”
The minister calls for action-oriented initiatives, collaboration, and the transformation of vulnerabilities into resilience.
He urged the Pacific community to demonstrate the urgency of their situation while remaining steadfast in their cultural identity.
“We must demonstrate the urgency of our situation, showing the world that while we are sinking, we are fighting at the same time, we will never give up.”
“Our cultural spirits, the song, and the dances of our Fatele remain unbroken, even in the face of death and destruction. We will continue to sing and dance our Fatele.
“There is hope by transforming our narrative and embracing resilience.
“We can engage and emerge stronger and build a better future. Together, let us turn our challenges into opportunities, ensuring a sustainable and resilient Pacific for generations to come.
“If you want to build better, do it the Pacific way,” he said.
