Tuvalu

Tuvalu and Kiribati both say upcoming climate talks in Paris are vital as rising sea levels threaten their existence.

Fourteen Pacific Island nations have been meeting in Jaipur in India to discuss rising sea levels.

Enele Sopoaga says failure is not an option.

He says the nation may be able to purchase land in other places, such as New Zealand and Australia if necessary.

However he says that won't stop climate change and its impact on Tuvalu, whose nine coral atolls are home to about 11,000 people.

The Pacific island nations say they have been forced to consider such nuclear options as buying land abroad to grow food and preparing their people to migrate as the seas slowly claim their homelands.

But as representatives of Pacific island nations met in Jaipur in the western Indian desert state of Rajasthan this week, the message was clear -- world leaders meeting in Paris in December must deliver on expectations of a historic deal to combat global warming.

Martin, the only representative from New Zealand’s Parliament asked to participate in the conference that starts next week, says she is proud to be involved in an initiative to help strengthen democracy in the Pacific.

“Tuvalu is interested in learning more about how the New Zealand and Australian parliaments work.

“This is a unique opportunity to share my experience as an MP and I hope all delegates can offer Tuvalu MPs knowledge of our parliamentary systems that will help in the successful running of the Tuvalu parliament,” says Martin.

Tuvalu’s Reverend Tafue Lusama is currently on a tour of New Zealand’s main centres in an effort to highlight the urgency of tackling climate change effects in the Pacific.

He is calling for New Zealand – which he refers to as “Tuvalu’s big brother” – to take the lead in climate change action and help to save the sinking country.

“I’ve always regarded New Zealand as Tuvalu’s big brother,” Rev Lusama said in his address at the Love Your Neighbour event earlier this month, which was co-ordinated by Oxfam.

A three day workshop coordinated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) led to the formation of the Tuvalu Invasive Species Committee which will be coordinated by the Environment Department.

"A key outcome in forming this Committee is that stakeholders and various agencies have agreed to collaborate which can bring about positive outcomes," said Dr Posa Skelton, Coordinator of the Pacific Invasives Learning Network at SPREP.

The 35 observers were divided into two groups with one group doing sea time at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) and the other group undertaking the Pacific Islands Regional Fisheries Observer Syllabus Programme.

A statement from government said each group did five weeks of intensive training before going for the second part which will take another five weeks.

Deputy Director Offshore, Edward Honiwala who officially opened the second part of the programme said the observers will spend another five weeks before completing the programme.

That's how the people of Tuvalu feel.

It's predicted the Island nation, the smallest archipelago in the Pacific, could be underwater in the next 30 to 50 years due to rising sea levels.

Tuvalese leaders spoke of their plight at a breakfast event in Mangere last week as part of a Climate Change Tour hosted by NZ NGOs including Tear Fund and Oxfam. The tour aims to create awareness around the effect climate change is having on our pacific neighbours, and continues in Christchurch and Wellington this week.

The eight are all women - Pelenise Selota Panapa, Neimaoto Asaelu, Melisula Telogo Limasene, Mauia Loini Talaapa, Christine Lifuka, Rosemary Silitone Lusama, Lisa Fakalupe and Valasi Galu.

A statement from the Tuvalu Permanent Mission in New York says Dr Panapa received a gold award while Dr Asaelu received one of the special awards.

Tuvalu’s Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Fauao Maani and the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Aunese Simati attended the first graduation of Tuvalu medical students in Cuba.

Tafue Lusama is making a public speaking tour of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch organised by New Zealand civil society groups, Tearfund, Oxfam, 350 Aotearoa and the Diocesan Climate Change Action Group.

Reverend Lusama, who is from Tuvalu, says the people in his country are still struggling to recover from cyclone Pam are now being faced by out of season stormy weather.

He says the time for debating the effects of climate change is over.

"The actions shown by government shows that the plans are not solely about recovery, but recovery that strengthens resilience of families, communities, islands, and the nation.”

The UN acknowledged the government of Tuvalu for recognising it as one of the important partners in the implementation of the vulnerability reduction plan and its commitment to strengthening disaster response and resilience for its people. The UN agencies responded to governments request and provided support in various technical roles also recognising the different partnerships involved in the process.