Tuvalu’s Climate Change and Home Affairs Minister, Dr Maina Talia, has called on church leaders in the Pacific not to turn a blind eye to the geopolitical tensions in the region.
Dr Talia opened the Pacific Churches for Ecological Stewardship & Climate Justice 2024 conference in Suva Monday, where church leaders are discussing climate change issues.
The Tuvaluan Minister said climate change for low-lying atolls is not a joke, stating that rising sea levels should not just be an academic topic nor should it be romanticised.
He said that beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius warming, there will be new risks, including loss of biodiversity, increased sea level rise, more extreme weather, and food security issues.
Dr Talia said these threats should not be used as a money-making machine for churches, universities, and governments.
The minister said that coupled with the climate crisis is the geopolitical tension, including the migration of young Pacific populations.
He said this is often seen as an opportunity, but Tuvalu has taken a stance on the mass migration happening in the region.
“Shall we call them a new form of colonisation? In fact, our government continues to maintain the position that migration is a definite no, but it’s a matter of choice.”
Dr Talia stresses the importance of ensuring the safety of this young population is not compromised.
The Minister said what’s important, though, is for the churches and governments to ensure the security of those who choose to remain behind.
He said church leaders’ needs to develop biblical responses that can address climate issues.
Meanwhile, Catholic Church Archbishop Peter Chong believes faith- based organisations need to speak together and loudly for the world hears the cry and the vulnerability of small Ocean Islands.
Speaking at the Pacific Churches for Ecological Stewardship & Climate Justice 2024 conference in Suva, Archbishop Chong said that it was important to have this kind of collaboration as this was something that Ocean Island nations needed to do.
“We need to come together so that we can speak together and speak loudly so that the world hears the cry and the vulnerability of small Ocean Islands that are vulnerable to climate change.”
“Particularly sea level rise, out of the five atoll islands in the world that will be the first to go underwater, four of them are in Oceania.”
“Our voice is probably the most important today in the world that can awaken and shock the world so that they can realise that climate change is real,” he said.
A total of 50-70 people, most of who are from the Pacific Island countries gathered today with the focus mainly being on climate change.
