mitigate the effects from which the country is already suffering". In pursuit of this end Tuvaluan
leaders engage passionately on the devastating effects climate change is having on their states
and the existential threat climate change poses to their nation and their people. This includes
chastising the world's only super power when in response to US President Trump's withdrawal
of the US from the Paris Climate Deal Tuvalu's Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga said:
^| have instructed my officials not to talk any climate change issues with this country until a new
policy is put in place,"
and added: "/ think it doesn't make any sense to talk about any other thing if we don't fix the
problem of climate change. ””*
Tuvalu's leaders have also used the media and other forms of soft power to influence and
mobilise public opinion in larger influential states such as the United States, Britain, Australia
and the European Union (EU)?. This has yielded political capital that could influence the policy
positions of these states in major climate conferences but also yielded commitments for
mitigating aid support to alleviate tidal inundation and damage to fresh water supplies’.
For Tuvalu its small land area, large EEZ, small population, small economy and vulnerability to
climate change mean its national security equation has neither the financial resources or
manpower for military forces nor the security need for military forces. In short there is no
realistic threat to Tuvalu’s national interests that can be mitigated by the use of force. A Police
maritime capability supported by Australian money and advisers manages resource security
and the bigger existential security issue of climate change is managed by diplomacy, public
affairs and Tuvalu’s sovereign status in the community of nations. Without this sovereign status
Tuvalu would not have access to the international fora it currently does to put forth its case. The
current international system of sovereign states and the United Nations gives Tuvalu the means
to defend itself, its people and its interests in a way a military force can not.
Liechtenstein and Tuvalu are not typical states by any means but they are sovereign entities
" Tuvalu's Views on the Possible Security Implications of Climate Change to be
included in the report of the UN Secretary General to the UN General Asembly 64'^
session, hitp://www.un.org/esa/dsd/resources/res pdfs/ga-64/cc-inputs/Tuvalu CCIS.pdf
7? Tuvalu PM reaction to Trump https://pasifik.news/pacific-leaders-react-us-climate-move-
indignation/
7? Tuvalu Media Engagement on Climate Change http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-15/an-
tuvalu-president-is-climate-change-27like-a-weapon-of-mass-/5672696
™ Foreign Aid in Support of Climate Change http://dfat.gov.au/geo/tuvalu/development-
assistance/Pages/objective-3-environment-and-climate-change.aspx
