“When storms come to my islands in Tuvalu, homes are torn apart, and families seek shelter in schools and churches,” stated Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo, during his national statement at the High-Level Side Event on Responding to Loss and Damage: Scaling Up Finance and Partnerships at the United Nations General Assembly.
This high-level event brought together global leaders and stakeholders to address the critical issue of loss and damage caused by climate change, emphasising the importance of financial resources and partnerships in supporting vulnerable nations like Tuvalu.
Prime Minister Teo articulated the grim reality faced by his people, “Salt water invades our water wells and food gardens, the very sources that sustain us. With each passing year, the encroaching seas claim more of our land.”
He called for immediate action to capitalise the newly established Loss and Damage Fund, insisting that “finance must move, and it must move where it is most needed.”
Tuvalu, which bears the immediate brunt of climate change impacts, is an emblem of the urgent need for effective strategies. As sea levels rise and severe weather events become more frequent, the stakes are high for Tuvaluan communities striving to rebuild their lives.
“Our communities strive to rebuild, but the losses outpace our recovery,” Teo explained, reinforcing that the potential of the Loss and Damage Fund must be realised through reliable resource allocation, rapid finance release, and accessibility for small administrations.
“Equity must be the principle that holds all this together. Those whose actions have caused climate change have a responsibility to help those who face its harshest impacts,” he emphasised.
He urged global leaders to ensure that the Fund operates effectively and reaches those most affected, stating that “the true test of our success lies in our ability to deliver.”
“Let us leave this meeting with the resolve to turn recognition into delivery,” he said.
