“We don't want to disappear”: Tuwalu is fighting for climate and survival Climate crisis

Tuvalu's climate change has told Al Jazeera that his country is struggling to stay above the growing sea level and needs “real engagements” from other countries that will allow Tuvalwans to “stay in Tuwalu” as the climate crisis is deteriorating.

The low nine atolls and islands, located between Australia and Hawaii in the Pacific, is struggling to maintain its sovereignty by exploring new roads in international diplomacy.

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But at the moment the country needs help only to stay over the water.

“Coming from a country that is almost one meter above the sea, the restoration of land and the construction of sea walls and the construction of our sustainability is the number one priority for us,” Talia told Al Jazeera in an interview during the recent general meeting of the United Nations in New York.

“We can't slow down. Climate funding is important for our survival,” Talia said.

“It's not about building (in the next) next two or three years ahead, and at the moment, we need now to respond to the climate crisis,” he said.

Talia, who is also Minister of Interior of Tuwalu and the environment, said the issue of funding would be a key issue at the upcoming UN COP30 Climatic Meeting in Belem in Brazilian Amazon in November.

“Pollute, you pay”

Tuwalu is one of the many countries that already insist on A better deal to fund climate At this year's cop, after many defenders left last year's meeting in Azerbaijan, disappointed with the Namby Target of $ 300 billion determined by more rich countries.

Describes Cop Climate Meeting Rather as a “festival for oil producing countries”, Thalia said that Tuvalu also explores a number of alternative initiatives, from impetus to the creation of the world's first contract for non-proliferation of fossil fuels, to strive to add all its cultural heritage to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Representatives of oil producing oils are now attending COP climate meetings in Large Counts, Thalia said to try and “really bury our voice as small developing countries.”

“They take control of the story. They take control of the process. They are trying to water all the texts. They are trying to stop funding the climate,” Thalia said.

“It's time to call the world that finances are important to us to survive,” he said.

“The principle of paying the pollutant is still there. You are polluting, you pay,” he added.

Thalia also said it was disappointing to see her own country struggle to survive, while other countries continue to spend billions of dollars on weapons for current and future wars.

“While your country faces this existential threat, it is quite disappointing to see that the world invests billions and trillions of dollars in wars, in conflicts,” he said.

A report published this week by the Global Adaptation Center (GCA) found that 39 countries from small islands, home to about $ 65 million, already need about $ 12 billion a year to help them deal with the effects of climate change.

This figure is many times more than approximately $ 2 billion a year, which is collectively receiving now, and which represents only 0.2 percent of the amount spent on global climate funding globally.

GCA, based in Rotterdam, a non -profit organization has also found that island countries are already experiencing an average of $ 1.7 billion annual economic losses due to climate change.

Not only is Touvelo focused on its own survival – the island state is considered to face one of the most severe existential threats of raising sea level – it also continues to find ways to combat climate change worldwide.

“That's why Tuwalu leads Fossil fuel non -proliferationThalia said.

About 16 countries have already signed the Treaty, with Colombia proposing to host the first international conference for termination of fossil fuels next year.

“We see her meaning to us,” Thalia said to the contract.

“We want to grow in number to go out with a contract except Paris Agreementhe said.

“We have to keep industrialized countries responsible”

Even when Tuvalu, a country with a population of less than 10,000, fights for immediate action regarding climate change, it also prepares for its own uncertain future, including the creation of a digital storage of its culture so that nothing is lost in the sea.

Talia, who is also Minister of Culture of Tuwalu, said he had made an official preliminary presentation in UNESCO two weeks before the Ang's meeting for “all of Tuvalu, which must be listed” on the World Heritage List.

“If we want to disappear, which is something we do not want to predict, but if the worst is the worst, you at least know that our values, our culture, heritage, are well secured,” he told Al Jazeera.

In the same way, Talia said that his country did not see its cooperation pact in 2023 with Australia, which included the world's first visa for migration of climate change, as an indication that the future of the island was sealed.

“I do not look at the phalepili agreement as a way of avoiding the issue of climate change, but more recently,” he said.

“The way we will allow our people in Tuvalu to receive a good education, trained and then return home,” he said, citing the agreement, giving some Tuvaluni access to education, health care and unlimited travel to Australia.

The text of the agreement includes confirmation from both parties that “the statehood and sovereignty of TUULU will continue, and the rights and obligations inherent in it will be maintained, regardless of the impact of the increase in sea level associated with the climate.”

Thalia also said that a A recent decision by the best UN courtThe International Court (ICJ) in The Hague stated that countries are responsible for dealing with climate change by collaborating to reduce emissions, following climate agreements and protecting the vulnerable population and ecosystems from harm.

ICJ's decision “really changed the whole context of the debate to change climate,” Thalia said.

“The highest court was stated that the highest court had ruled the decision,” he said of the case brought before the Council of Ministers by a neighbor of Tuwalu Vanuatu.

“So it's just a question of how we live this or weave this in our climate policies,” he said.

“We have to keep the industrialized countries responsible for our actions,” he added.