Tuvalu
How do you make the invisible impossible to ignore?
For youth climate justice activists Calan Simpson-Felicia and Andrea Miltiadous, watching the Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu be slowly swallowed by rising seas, the question is an existential one. Despite Tuvalu having contributed next to nothing to global emissions, the country has been transformed by climate change, with coastlines disappearing under ocean waves and farms and drinking water threatened by the encroaching salt water. And yet until recently, few outside the Pacific region even knew it existed.
Calan and Andrea set out to change that. Recognizing that, just as Tuvalu did not create the crisis, it would need the world to step up. They joined forces with the non-governmental organization Saving Tuvalu, created by youth activist Santiago Flores, and represented internationally by its global youth leader, Bernard Kato Ewekia. By harnessing the power of storytelling and social media, collectively, they are calling other youth and the peoples of the world in elevating the country's plight into a global cause.
Using the slogan, "If Tuvalu sinks, the world sinks with it," the activists sought to bring the stories of the humanitarian crisis quickly unfolding in the country to mass attention and inspire people everywhere to see what is happening not just as a challenge for Tuvalu but a challenge for all of us. And it's working through widespread media coverage, regularly reaching tens of thousands through partnerships with groups like Fridays for Future.
Plus, with climate justice poised to be one of the central issues of upcoming UN talks at the COPY 27 climate conference, Tuvalu could help shape the conversation on the way forward.
Having seen the success of their outreach and demand for global action to protect Tuvalu and other climate-vulnerable nations increasing, what advice would Calan and Andrea offer other young changemakers?
"We would encourage anyone yearning for change to absolutely go for it! We ourselves are teenagers and young adults with no bachelor’s degree in climate policy or environmental science. We merely share a passion to save our planet, our only home, from the wrongdoings of the past. As a suggestion we would recommend that to take action within the climate movement it is of utmost importance to work with the people in the area you’re trying to help. This means don’t speak for them, instead stand by them and support them in revealing to the world their true story."
International solidarity with Tuvalu’s community is urgently needed
In Their Own Words
What was the problem you saw and which of the solution areas does it relate to?
The problem we identified was the invisible nature of the climate crisis in Tuvalu to the global community. Tuvalu is one of the most at-risk nations to climate change and yet most people globally don’t even know the nation exists. The lack of global awareness to the humanitarian issues being faced by Tuvaluans is a key barrier to making the necessary changes globally to save their islands and transition to an environmentally sound future. Saving Tuvalu was founded to raise awareness and highlight the voices of Tuvaluans, as we believe that to right global injustices the focus must be put on those most affected.
What was your idea/insight to solve it and the end result/vision you wanted to achieve?
By harnessing social media we are able to collaborate with youth activists, environmental activists, renowned media publications, and internal humanitarian missions to raise awareness and bring support to the situation in Tuvalu. The youth-led work of Saving Tuvalu has already made great strides in increasing the visibility of Tuvaluans' voices. However, there is still much to be done and it is our goal that through our efforts the voices of Tuvaluans and other marginalized communities will not be ignored and we as a global community will make the necessary changes to avoid climate disaster.
Why is this solution important to your country and community?
The work we do is important because for so longm Tuvaluans have not had a voice internationally when they are some of the people most affected by the climate crisis. Tuvalu is at risk of sinking completely below the ocean in our lifetime if we as a global community do not reduce our impact on the environment before it is too late. Our land, our way of life is at risk of disappearing. But Tuvaluans are fighters and are the best advocates for Tuvalu, the work we do at Saving Tuvalu allows them to finally be heard.
What were the biggest challenges you faced/ran into?
The biggest challenges we faced initially were the lack of awareness of the international community to Tuvalu’s existence, let alone its humanitarian and climate struggles. The remoteness of Tuvalu has also made it challenging to coordinate with activists on the ground to assist with humanitarian aid initiatives. As a small NGO with a volunteer workforce, it has also been challenging to grow our network of international allies who are willing to show solidarity with Tuvalu’s situation. These challenges we all take in stride and are necessary to overcome to be successful with the work we do.
How did you mobilize people to take action?
What initially ignited the flame inside of us to turn the scope on Tuvalu was the fact that Tuvalu is a real-time example of the devastating impacts of climate change, and yet Tuvaluans’ stories have been silenced for decades by the international community. How could we stand by and watch this injustice? For us it is a matter of safeguarding the present and future of Tuvaluans’ livelihoods. Therefore, we took our activism to social media and spread the word: “If Tuvalu sinks, the world sinks with it.” From then collaborations with movements such as Fridays for Future International Campaign have helped reach audiences of up to 27,000 people. By doing so we made it clear that we challenge the barriers that distance us and proclaim a voice of resistance that resonates louder than ever.
Who were key stakeholders or partners that worked with you?
Stakeholders that helped take our activism to the next level were movements on Instagram, like Fridays for Future International Campaign, as well as the Tuvaluan government. Tuvalu’s government is fully invested in mitigating the effects of climate change but financial constraints limit its capacity to do so. Nevertheless Kato Ewekia, represented Tuvalu and Saving Tuvalu at COP 26 in an attempt to bring Indigenous people to the global stage and involve them in decision-making. This opportunity also led to various interviews with media outlets like the Guardian.
What insight, ideas, or suggestions would you offer someone looking to take action in a similar way?
We would encourage anyone yearning for change to absolutely go for it! We ourselves are teenagers and young adults with no bachelor’s degree in climate policy or environmental science. We merely share a passion to save our planet, our only home, from the wrongdoings of the past. As a suggestion we would recommend that to take action within the climate movement it is of utmost importance to work with the people in the area you’re trying to help. This means don’t speak for them, instead stand by them and support them in revealing to the world their true story.
How did this project you created promote equity or justice in your community?
Saving Tuvalu is not a project now. It is a family. Drawn from different parts of the world with a common goal and aim. Most importantly though the internal campaign of Saving Tuvalu consists of locals, Tuvaluans - the protagonists. We are hoping the awareness our organization is spreading is helping even slightly to achieve social and climate justice. However humanitarian projects will start very soon within Tuvalu and this will indeed transform our work to something even more visible and valuable.