TOKYO - Prime Minister Feleti Teo from Tuvalu, a small island country in the Pacific threatened by rising seas caused by climate change, stated during an exclusive conversation with the Mainichi Shimbun on June 5 that the ICJ's advisory ruling in July 2025 confirming each country’s duty to tackle climate change was “a significant accomplishment.”
He emphasized that island nations, which emit very little greenhouse gases but face severe impacts from climate change, "must receive compensation for the losses we have incurred."
Teo went to Japan to participate in the Island Nations Ocean Conference taking place in Tokyo from June 3rd to 4th.
The ICJ view describes climate change as an "urgent global issue threatening every form of life," suggesting that countries not taking steps might face legal consequences. The UN General Assembly, which includes 193 members, also passed a resolution in May 2026 backing this perspective with significant approval.
Teo stated, "The discussion seems to have moved from ethical responsibilities to a legal obligation." He contended that nations which contribute to global warming should offer assistance or "face consequences for their role in triggering climate change."
Even though the ICJ advisory opinion and the UN resolution do not have legal force, Teo stated that they may "serve as the foundation for a future agreement" aimed at creating enforceable global actions.
Concerning the U.S. government under President Donald Trump's choice to exit the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, Teo stated, "This represents a significant step backward." He mentioned that "nations such as Tuvalu have consistently turned to the U.S. for guidance," and further noted, "I trust that leading nations like Japan and various European countries can persuade the U.S. to... reconsider their present approaches toward climate change."
Describing the adoption of renewable energy as "a major priority," Teo stated, "We hope that Japan will assist us in achieving greater energy security."
The government of Tuvalu has been elevating coastal areas and implementing additional measures to address climate change, alongside developing strategies to transfer the country’s administrative operations, cultural aspects, and national identity into an online virtual environment called the metaverse. Teo referred to this approach as “preparing for the worst possible situation,” noting that one aim is to maintain Tuvalu's independence as a digital state should its actual landmass be lost.
(By Kosuke Hatta, Japanese version, Editorial Department)
