“We are disappointed that the text on coal has been edited at the last minute,” Minister Simon Coff told Reuters. Initially, the final statement stated that the countries wanted to “phase out” coal, but under pressure from India and China, it changed “gradually” at the last minute.

For Tuvalu, which has a population of about 12,000, it feels bad and threatened by the effects of climate change. The highest point in the country is more than 4 meters above sea level. If it rises further, the areas will become uninhabitable or disappear completely under water. Koff said he hopes his video message clarifies what situation his country is facing.

The Minister criticizes the climate plans of some countries. For example, in his view, Australia should have shown greater ambition to control global warming by 1.5 degrees compared to pre-industrial conditions. “I think there are reports that even with the current promises we are going 2.4 degrees,” he said. “So we would have liked to see the major countries reduce their emissions further.”