Grace Malie

Last updated
Grace Malie
Bornc. 1999 (age 25–26)
Tuvalu
Nationality Tuvalu
Educationon Fiji
Known forclimate activism

Grace Malie (born c.1999) is a Tuvaluan climate activist. She has been quoted before the International Court of Justice, and she has presented her country's concerns before the United Nations. She is a youth delegate for the Rising Nations Initiative.

Life

Malie was born in about 1999. She, and her family, lived on one of the islands that make up Tuvalu. She went to school on Fiji where the children, from Tuvalu, were teased as being from the "sinking island". [1]

Malie is outspoken concerning the effect of climate change on her country. [1] At the end of 2023, she was at COP28 in Dubai when she lobbied the British King Charles III. [2] She was introduced to him by the secretary general of the commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, and Malie said she received the King's support. [3]

Tuvalu's case against the countries who created climate change was being presented before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in December 2024 by Tuvalu's attorney general, Laingane Italeli Talia. [4] A case was being made regarding the rising sea levels threatening Tuvulu and other members of the Alliance of Small Island States. Vanuatu had arranged for the ICJ to advise on the legal position of the countries who caused this damage. The court was told that this was the largest threat to the existence of the islands of Tuvalu. Professor Phillipa Webb quoted Malie as saying, "Tuvalu will not go quietly into the rising sea", and this was reported on by the media. [4]

Tuvalu is preparing for the worst, as they are told, that their country may not exist in the future. [5] One of the mitigations organised by the Rising Nations Initiative (RNI) is to make a digital record of everything on Tuvalu. [6] RNI is concerned with preserving the sovereignty of the small nations at threat and their heritage project is intended to digitally capture a record of these communities. [7] Malie is a youth delegate for the Rising Nations Initiative. [2]

Malie has presented at TEDx London, [8] and in September 2024 she and the prime minister Feleti Teo addressed a special U.N. General Assembly summit on sea level rise. [1] She told them that Tuvalu had done little to cause climate change but it was being asked to take the most pain. She had three minutes and she was pleased that she received some clapping. [3]

One of Tuvalu's concerns was theit future status. Would the country exist after its islands were submerged? [1] Malia's concern is what she will do. She says may have children in the future and then she thinks she would need to move to Australia as that country has agreed to give shelter to the people of Tuvalu. However, if she remains childless then she would be tempted to stay despite the risks and hardship. Decisions like hers are being shared by other families in her country. [1]

Related Research Articles

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Events from 2021 in Tuvalu.

Events from 2024 in Tuvalu.

Laingane Italeli Talia, is the current Attorney-General of Tuvalu. She is the second female Tuvaluan lawyer who has been appointed Attorney-General; she succeeded Eselealofa Apinelu who was the first Tuvaluan female who qualified as a lawyer, and also the first female appointed as the Attorney-General.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Young people in island nations face an existential question: Should they stay or should they go?". AP News. 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  2. 1 2 "Teenager states fears of rising malaria cases and links to extreme weather". East London and West Essex Guardian Series. 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  3. 1 2 "Tuvalu: the fight to save a sinking nation from climate change". Channel 4 News. 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  4. 1 2 "'We Will Not Go Quietly Into the Rising Sea,' Tuvalu Tells International Court of Justice". www.globalissues.org. 2024-12-13. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  5. ↑ "NASA climate models show 'business as usual' will flood Pacific Islands". Space Daily. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  6. ↑ "Tuvalu: The disappearing island nation recreating itself in the metaverse". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  7. ↑ Institute, Lowy. "Major projects". Lowy Institute Pacific Aid Map. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  8. ↑ Pasha, Maryam (2024-01-05). "BOSS series: Tuvalu's climate superpower". TEDxLondon. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
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