Tuvalu minister: Urgent steps must be taken regarding sea level rise

COP29 is crucial for financial accessibility in fighting climate change, Maina Talia, Minister of Home Affairs, Climate Change and Environment of Tuvalu, told a panel session on "Ecosystems of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Communities in Climate Change Conditions" held on the sidelines of COP29 in Baku, Report informs.

"Climate change is very noticeable in Tuvalu. As an island nation, we are direct witnesses to this change in Tuvalu. Our country's population is forced to leave their homeland due to climate change. But this is a very difficult, hard decision for us," Talia emphasized.

According to the Tuvalu official, the situation with rising sea levels has gotten out of control: "Urgent steps need to be taken regarding this. We don't know what events will occur in the coming decades."

The minister noted that COP29 focuses on climate finance: "The discussions here have a serious impact on small island states as well. In this sense, we see a light of hope. The COP29 conference is crucial for financial accessibility in fighting climate change."