02:30Mandatory credit: Government of Tuvalu
Tuvalu's Foreign Minister Simon Kofe delivered a recorded speech to the UN COP26 climate summit from the waters off Fongafale, in footage broadcast on Tuesday
In it he spoke about the realities of climate change threatening low level island nations, such as Tuvalu. He also spoke about how Tuvalu would strive to maintain its maritime boundaries as a sovereign state in a situation where the island would become totally submerged.
“On the national level we are pursuing both legal avenues to ensure that Tuvalu's existing maritime boundaries will remain intact and we will be recognised as sovereign, even if our land territory is lost to climate change. We are also rapidly adopting innovative digital tools and platforms to build a digital nation. New digitised systems will allow us to continue to fully function as a sovereign state, regardless of land loss or relocation,” stated Kofe.
As the camera panned away the recording showed Kofe standing partly submerged by water, a visual aide in depicting how the island is threatened by changing sea levels. Tuvalu is an island with a population of about 11,000 people and its highest point is 4.5 metres (15ft) above sea level. Sea levels have risen about 0.5cm (0.2in) a year since 1993, according to a 2011 Australian government report.
Tuvalu: Foreign minister delivers climate plea while standing knee-deep in ocean waters
Tuvalu's Foreign Minister Simon Kofe delivered a recorded speech to the UN COP26 climate summit from the waters off Fongafale, in footage broadcast on Tuesday
In it he spoke about the realities of climate change threatening low level island nations, such as Tuvalu. He also spoke about how Tuvalu would strive to maintain its maritime boundaries as a sovereign state in a situation where the island would become totally submerged.
“On the national level we are pursuing both legal avenues to ensure that Tuvalu's existing maritime boundaries will remain intact and we will be recognised as sovereign, even if our land territory is lost to climate change. We are also rapidly adopting innovative digital tools and platforms to build a digital nation. New digitised systems will allow us to continue to fully function as a sovereign state, regardless of land loss or relocation,” stated Kofe.
As the camera panned away the recording showed Kofe standing partly submerged by water, a visual aide in depicting how the island is threatened by changing sea levels. Tuvalu is an island with a population of about 11,000 people and its highest point is 4.5 metres (15ft) above sea level. Sea levels have risen about 0.5cm (0.2in) a year since 1993, according to a 2011 Australian government report.
Mandatory credit: Government of Tuvalu
Tuvalu's Foreign Minister Simon Kofe delivered a recorded speech to the UN COP26 climate summit from the waters off Fongafale, in footage broadcast on Tuesday
In it he spoke about the realities of climate change threatening low level island nations, such as Tuvalu. He also spoke about how Tuvalu would strive to maintain its maritime boundaries as a sovereign state in a situation where the island would become totally submerged.
“On the national level we are pursuing both legal avenues to ensure that Tuvalu's existing maritime boundaries will remain intact and we will be recognised as sovereign, even if our land territory is lost to climate change. We are also rapidly adopting innovative digital tools and platforms to build a digital nation. New digitised systems will allow us to continue to fully function as a sovereign state, regardless of land loss or relocation,” stated Kofe.
As the camera panned away the recording showed Kofe standing partly submerged by water, a visual aide in depicting how the island is threatened by changing sea levels. Tuvalu is an island with a population of about 11,000 people and its highest point is 4.5 metres (15ft) above sea level. Sea levels have risen about 0.5cm (0.2in) a year since 1993, according to a 2011 Australian government report.