'A matter of survival,' says Tuvalu's deputy prime minister, calling for an end to fossil fuels at the UN

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development of Tuvalu, Papanasi Nelesone, said last Wednesday (Sep 25, 2024) that his country "calls" for the "adoption of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty."

"For us, this is not just an item on the agenda. This is a matter of survival," Nelesone stated during the UN High-Level Meeting to discuss sea level rise.

The meeting followed the Summit of the Future and focused on building common understandings, political mobilization, and promoting multisectoral and international collaboration, providing solutions for the states and communities most affected by sea level rise.

Tuvalu is a small country located in Polynesia, made up of 9 islands and atolls. It is at risk of becoming the first state to disappear from the planet due to the pace of climate change.

"My country is no more than 2 meters above sea level. Each year, we witness our shores shrinking and our future becoming more precarious. The IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] report warns that without immediate action, nations like Tuvalu could disappear within this century," he explained.

"Earlier this year, Tuvalu experienced some of the worst coastal flooding in its history, reliving the consequences of sea level rise," he added.

As part of risk reduction measures, Nelesone said that Tuvalu, along with other countries, launched an initiative for international legal frameworks to protect the sovereignty and culture of vulnerable nations.

Additionally, there is a Long-Term Adaptation Plan that aims to restore and elevate the country's land. This way, future generations of Tuvaluans are expected to continue living on their ancestral islands.

"But this is not enough. The window for bold and transformative action is closing. We must tackle the root cause of this crisis, greenhouse gas emissions driven by fossil fuels. Tuvalu, along with 12 other nations, calls for adopting a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty," he stated.

Nelesone said that Tuvalu needs international cooperation to phase out fossil fuels "in a fair and fast manner" because the existence of its people is under threat.

"Every day of inaction brings us closer to a reality where entire nations could disappear," he declared.

Coalition to Address Sea Level Rise and its Existential Threats

This is the name of the group formed at the UN, co-chaired by Tuvalu and Germany. Other members include Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Denmark, Malta, Morocco, New Zealand, Palau, Korea, and Romania.

During the sea level rise meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister said that the gathering was proof of what robust multilateralism and its actions could achieve.

However, he stressed that the meeting should serve as a driver for "immediate and transformative" actions.

"We reaffirm that no effort should be spared to safeguard the inalienability of the sovereignty and statehood of affected Member States," he said.

"We must also leverage collective action to protect the rich cultures and traditions of small island developing states and low-lying communities threatened by sea level rise," he added.

Nelesone emphasized the importance of knowledge, data, and science, which enable well-informed disaster risk management and climate adaptation:

"Efforts must ensure that affected communities have access to effective early warning systems, make well-informed choices, and follow prosperous and positive adaptation pathways that promote resilience, protect livelihoods, and sustain communities."

What is happening in Tuvalu?

Located in Polynesia, Tuvalu is one of the countries most affected by climate change and, ultimately, by rising sea levels.

Tuvalu is made up of a group of 9 islands and atolls. It covers just 26 square kilometers, home to about 11,000 inhabitants.

With the possibility that the entire country could be underwater before the end of the century, the government of Tuvalu is betting on the complete digitization of all its services.

This initiative raises questions:

• Can a nation exist without territory?
• Can a nation continue to exist solely in digital form?