Rising sea levels: Is there any hope for the inhabitants of Tuvalu? | DW News

"We are staring at the existential threats of climate change. We are grappling with the questions of statelessness, sovereignty, the risk of losing our way of life", Ambassador Samuelu Laloniu, Special Envoy of the Government of Tuvalu, told DW's Leonie von Hammerstein. "I think there's a need for people to understand the human aspects, the human face of the climate crisis", he added.

The low-lying Pacific island nation of Tuvalu is one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, especially sea level rise. "Our priority now is to build resilience and enhance our capacity to adapt."

Along with a senior delegation from his country, Mr. Laloniu has visited Geneva, Copenhagen, Paris and Berlin, to meet with senior government officials, UN representatives and civil society, and discuss the urgent need for climate action.

"If we are serious about sea level rise, we have to address the problem at the source. And, you know, fossil fuel is the greatest source of the climate crisis and sea level rise", he told DW.

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[attilaabonyi]

You can hear it in his voice that he feels hopeless about this whole thing.

[mrnobody]

I am from The Netherlands and i am pretty sure we have the tech to raise an island like Tuvalu from the sea and keep the water from entering the landmass... We did it with our own country since the 14th century and we have helped other countries with reclaiming land from the sea too.. It all comes down to funding, and there is probably not enough money to make this happen for a small sized economy like Tuvalu.. sadly.. it costs Billions and the economy has an annual gross income somewhere between 60 and 70 million..

[toradora]

No body is going to care until it starts impacting their own back yard.

[vrvaughn]

This reporter seems gleeful about their plight… whoever is directing these young reporters to smile and seem bright is doing a great disservice to them.

[poleun]

They tried to warn us, but we just kept kicking the can down to the next generation and now it's too late for Tuvalu

[ubelyildmar]

Very poor social skills from the interviewer. Watching her gives me vicarious embarrassment.

[diazvirdani]

*Head of State Tuvalu, still King UK🇬🇧*

[wulfcogle]

Sorry, I had to pause your video at around the 3 ish minute mark. Shared in Scotland. Watching the rest now.
Saor Alba.

[rollingdownfalling]

It reminded me of places like Venice and Jakarta.

[gerryhouska]

Australia just approved four new coal mines. Money before people!

[lulufulu]

A suitable island nearby should be donated by one of the billionaires

[CausticLemons]

The costs of inaction against climate change become more and more devastating everyday. I hope we will wake up and work together before it's too late.

[KIA-MIA-POW]

Not too far away and the sea has not risen 1cm in the last 10 years! The sea is not rising, it's the sea bed and land mass falling due to seismic activity.

[michaelm]

Are they sure it isn't because of plate techtonics

[georgejenkins]

Was there ever a time when a "nation" composed of three reef islands and six atolls, rising only 15 feet above sea level, AT ITS HIGHEST POINT, and having a total land area of only 10 square miles was not in danger of being inundated? It is surprising that the whole country is not covered by water with every spring tide. They are fortunate they do not see the 40 foot tides we have on the Bay of Fundy.

[jaydani]

This is fascinating imagine an entire nation disappearing due to climate change

[seawench]

Just answer the ladies Question, what are u physically doing to counteract the water ingress. Like building big walls etc he has no idea. Probably because u can't stop the water point blank.

[papaholke]

PLEASE exercise CAREFULY ...
the SEA that RISE
OR
the LAND that SINKING

[quaoar]

The average sea level during every interglacial period within the current Quarternary Ice Age was 60 to 80 ft higher than today. They should relocate

[gregreymcdaniel]

Some areas lose land mass while other areas gain land mass as the waters shift. Look at coastal regions maps of the 1700's. The waters have always shifted and will continue to do so even after all of these individuals demand government do something. Nothing government does will stop it.