Dr. Maina Talia | |
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![]() Maina Talia in 2025 | |
Minister for Home Affairs, Climate Change, and Environment | |
Assumed office 27 February 2024 | |
Prime Minister | Feleti Teo |
Preceded by | Sa'aga Talu Teafa (Home Affairs) Ampelosa Manoa Tehulu (Environment) |
Member of Parliament | |
Assumed office 26 January 2024 | |
Constituency | Vaitupu |
Personal details | |
Political party | Independent |
Alma mater | Charles Sturt University |
Dr. Maina Talia is a Tuvaluan politician and is known for his work as a climate activist. [1] [2]
Talia trained in theology and was employed by the Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu (EKT) as a climate change officer from 2011 until June 2017. [3] He coordinated the preparation of the EKT statement “Dancing with God in the rainbow”that discusses social issues experienced by Tuvaluans. [3] In 2022,he undertook Doctoral Studies at the Charles Sturt University in Sydney,Australia. His doctoral thesis was titled “(tu)akoi (neighbour) and climate change from three trajectories,indigenous wisdom,biblical and geopolitics.” [4] [5]
From 2011,he has been the secretary of the Tuvalu Climate Action Network (TuCAN), [5] also in 2011 he was appointed the National Focal point in Tuvalu for the Pacific Indigenous Network (PIN). [3] He was the Tuvalu Association of NGOs Director from 2018 to 2020. [5] He was involved in the formation of the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN),and he has also served a two year term as member of the Board of Directors of PICAN. [3] [5]
He was a member of the Tuvalu Government delegation to COP 18 in Doha,COP21 in Paris,and COP23 in Bonn. [3]
Talia was elected to represent Vaitupu in the 2024 general election. [6] [7] Talia was appointed the Minister for Home Affairs,Climate Change,and Environment in the Teo Ministry. [8]