AGP Executive Report

Tuvalu leadership & climate diplomacy: PM Feleti Teo used his 48th Independence Anniversary address to put education and health at the centre of development, and to stress that Tuvalu’s climate response must stay rooted in the “Tuvalu Way” to protect land, sovereignty and future as seas rise. Sea-level rise & statehood: Tuvalu welcomed the UN’s Political Declaration on Sea-Level Rise, highlighting continuity of statehood and permanence of maritime boundaries, while Teo pointed to practical adaptation already underway. Coastal adaptation update: Tuvalu says it has reclaimed 15.3 hectares of flood-free land on Funafuti, with another 10 hectares in progress, as part of staying above rising seas. Connectivity for everyday life: Tuvalu announced subsidised Fiji airfares and improved maritime and digital links, aiming to make travel for family, education, work and essential services more affordable. Women in power: Tuvalu appointed its first woman Governor-General, Temukisa Auina Penehuro Hauma, with a clear focus on empowering women. Culture & storytelling: Commonwealth Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh returned to Tuvalu for workshops that helped students and community members write and preserve local stories. Climate justice push: Pacific civil society issued the “Funafuti Call for Climate Justice,” demanding an end to new coal, oil and gas expansion and stronger Pacific control over climate decisions ahead of Pre-COP31 and COP31.

Independence & Climate Diplomacy: Tuvalu PM Feleti Teo used his 48th Independence address to stress that development means education and health, while climate action must follow the “Tuvalu Way.” He welcomed a UN sea-level rise declaration affirming continuity of statehood and permanence of maritime boundaries. Sovereignty in Practice: Teo said Tuvalu has already reclaimed 15.3 hectares of flood-free land on Funafuti, with more underway, and is using digital tools to protect institutions and heritage. Transport & Connectivity: Tuvalu announced cheaper, capped subsidised Fiji airfares (Tuvaluans get reserved seats) plus improved maritime links and cheaper internet access. Women in Leadership: Temukisa Auina Penehuro Hauma was sworn in as Tuvalu’s first woman Governor-General, with a stated focus on empowering women. Culture & Storytelling: A Tuvalu blackbirding documentary, “The Stolen Laevans of Tuvalu,” is heading to international film festivals, linking historical displacement to today’s climate pressures. Pre-COP31 Push: Pacific leaders and civil society are ramping up calls for 1.5°C, stronger climate finance, and climate justice ahead of COP31.

Tuvalu–Fiji Connectivity Boost: Prime Minister Feleti Teo announced subsidised Funafuti–Fiji airfares from 02 October (travel from 01 November), with eight seats per flight capped at $600 return, plus stronger maritime links via the Niutao Boat Harbour and the MV Manu Sina, and cheaper internet access. Climate Diplomacy, 1.5°C Focus: Pacific leaders are meeting in Fiji and Tuvalu ahead of COP31 to push for keeping warming close to 1.5°C, warning there’s no safe future above that line. Women Lead in Climate Talks: Fijian women and elders are set to bring relocation stories to Pre-COP31 talanoa in Nadi, arguing women must be part of decisions that reshape homes, land and identity. Historic Leadership Milestone: Tuvalu appointed its first woman Governor-General, Temukisa Auina Penehuro Hauma, sworn in on the eve of Independence, with a mandate to empower women. Statehood at Sea-Level Rise Front: Tuvalu’s PM backed the UN Political Declaration on Sea-Level Rise, stressing continuity of statehood and permanence of maritime rights as Tuvalu reclaims land and uses digital tools to protect sovereignty and heritage. Culture on the Move: Commonwealth Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh visited Tuvalu for writing workshops, helping students turn lived experience into stories. Film Spotlight: “The Stolen Laevans of Tuvalu” is heading to international festivals after revisiting the 1863 blackbirding raid and the resilience that followed.

Tuvalu Leadership & Gender Equality: Temukisa Auina Penehuro Hauma was sworn in as Tuvalu’s first woman Governor-General, beginning a four-year term on the eve of the 48th Independence anniversary, with Prime Minister Feleti Teo calling it a historic milestone and Hauma pledging to empower women. Climate Justice & Pacific Advocacy: Pacific civil society issued the “Funafuti Call for Climate Justice,” urging an immediate stop to new coal, oil and gas expansion, stronger loss-and-damage action, and more Pacific control over climate decisions ahead of Pre-COP31 and COP31. Statehood, Oceans & Adaptation: At the UN General Assembly, Tuvalu’s PM backed the UN Political Declaration on Sea-Level Rise, stressing continuity of statehood and permanent maritime rights, while also highlighting Funafuti’s coastal adaptation gains—15.3 hectares reclaimed and more underway. Culture & Storytelling: Commonwealth Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh returned to Tuvalu for creative writing workshops after weather delayed the first national Cultural Festival, helping students and community leaders turn lived experience into new stories. Media & Climate Narratives: Screen Australia announced $5.7M+ for 47 documentaries, including “Saving Tuvalu,” a community-led climate story co-produced by Australia and Germany.

Tuvalu Leadership: Temukisa Auina Penehuro Hauma was sworn in as Tuvalu’s first woman Governor-General, beginning a four-year term on the eve of the 48th Independence anniversary, with Prime Minister Feleti Teo calling it a historic milestone and Hauma pledging a focus on empowering women. Climate Justice & Statehood: At the UN, Tuvalu’s PM backed the Political Declaration on Sea-Level Rise, stressing that nationhood and maritime rights must remain “not negotiable,” while Tuvalu’s coastal adaptation project has already reclaimed 15.3 hectares on Funafuti (with more underway). Women’s Voices in Climate Decisions: Fijian women facing relocation are set to bring their stories to Pre-COP31 talanoa in Nadi, and Pacific research highlights how excluding women from water and climate decisions fuels wider gendered harm. Culture & Storytelling: Commonwealth Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh returned to Tuvalu for writing workshops, helping students capture local memories and sea-level fears in their own words. Media & Film: Screen Australia backed “Saving Tuvalu,” an Australian/German co-production telling Tuvalu’s climate response through community-led storytelling. Pacific Action: Civil society groups issued “The Funafuti Call for Climate Justice,” demanding an end to new fossil fuel expansion and stronger loss-and-damage reporting.

UN Diplomacy: UNGA High-Level Week opened in New York with António Guterres urging action on war, inequality, climate and AI, while Trump pushed AI “superintelligence” and sparked walkouts over Gaza. Climate Justice (Tuvalu-led): Pacific civil society issued “The Funafuti Call for Climate Justice,” demanding an end to new coal, oil and gas expansion, climate reparations, and Pacific control over climate decisions ahead of COP31. Statehood & Sea-Level Rise: Tuvalu’s PM Feleti Teo backed the UN Political Declaration on Sea-Level Rise, stressing continuity of statehood and permanent maritime rights under UNCLOS, alongside land reclamation of 15.3 hectares on Funafuti and another 10 hectares in progress. Women’s Voice: Research on Pacific water and climate found women are repeatedly excluded from decision-making, even though they hold key household knowledge. Culture & Storytelling: Commonwealth Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh returned to Tuvalu for workshops that helped students write stories rooted in place and sea-level change. Leadership Milestone: Tuvalu swore in its first woman Governor-General, Temukisa Auina Penehuro Hauma, on the eve of Independence. Heritage on Film: A documentary on Nukulaelae’s 1863 blackbirding raid is set for international festival screens, linking displacement history to today’s climate pressures.

Culture & Memory: A new documentary, The Stolen Laevans of Tuvalu, is heading to international film festivals after a powerful premiere, revisiting the 1863 blackbirding raid that took most of Nukulaelae’s population and tracing how displacement still shapes Tuvalu today. Survival at Sea: Three Bougainvilleans rescued after 69 days adrift survived on fish, roasted cocoa beans and rainwater—an ocean ordeal that also follows closely on other regional tragedies. Tuvalu at the UN: Prime Minister Feleti Teo urged decisive action on sea-level rise and welcomed the UN Political Declaration, highlighting continuity of statehood and permanent maritime rights under UNCLOS. Land, Identity & Tech: Tuvalu says it has reclaimed 15.3 hectares on Funafuti (with more underway) and is using digital tools to safeguard sovereignty, institutions and heritage. Women’s Voice in Climate Decisions: Pacific research flags exclusion of women from water decision-making as the root of wider gendered climate impacts, ahead of pre-COP31 discussions. Pacific Arts & Storytelling: Commonwealth Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh returned to Tuvalu for workshops that helped students turn lived experience into writing.

Tuvalu at UN: Prime Minister Feleti Teo used the UN General Assembly to push for decisive action on sea-level rise, celebrating the UN Political Declaration on Sea-Level Rise for affirming continuity of statehood and the permanence of maritime boundaries under UNCLOS. Coastal adaptation update: Teo also said Tuvalu has reclaimed 15.3 hectares of elevated, flood-free land on Funafuti, with another 10 hectares in progress, while using digital tools to protect sovereignty, institutions, and heritage. Women’s voices in climate water decisions: Pacific advocates and new research warn that women are being shut out of water and climate decision-making, even though they hold key household knowledge—fueling calls for gender justice to be built into pre-COP31 planning. Culture & storytelling: Commonwealth Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh returned to Tuvalu for the first time, running creative writing workshops after weather delayed the national Cultural Festival, helping students and community leaders put their own stories on paper. Regional climate media push: Pacific editors pledged stronger reporting on loss and damage, focusing on cultural and social impacts—not just financial costs—at a forum in Fiji. Digital connectivity: Pacific leaders discussed affordable, inclusive, and safer digital connectivity, stressing protection of sovereignty, data, and Indigenous knowledge as Tuvalu and others expand online services.

UN Sea-Level Declaration: Tuvalu’s PM Feleti Teo welcomed the UN’s new Political Declaration on Sea-Level Rise, saying it locks in continuity of statehood and keeps maritime rights from being “erasable” even as coastlines change. Tuvalu Adaptation on Funafuti: Teo also reported Tuvalu has reclaimed 15.3 hectares of elevated, flood-free land on Funafuti, with another 10 hectares in progress, plus digital tools to safeguard sovereignty and heritage. Women’s Voices in Water Decisions: Pacific advocates say climate and water insecurity worsen when women are excluded from decision-making, urging global talks ahead of COP31 to put gender justice at the center. Culture & Storytelling: Commonwealth Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh returned to Tuvalu for the first time, running writing workshops that helped students capture local memories and the reality of sea-level rise. Pacific Media on Loss & Damage: Pacific editors pledged stronger reporting on climate-related loss and damage, including harms that can’t be measured only in money. Digital Connectivity: Pacific leaders discussed affordable, safer digital spaces and protecting sovereignty, data, and Indigenous knowledge as connectivity expands.

Women & Water Security: Pacific advocates say women’s exclusion from decision-making is the root cause of gendered climate and water harms, urging COP31 talks to include women’s knowledge—especially at community and subnational levels. Tuvalu at the UN: Prime Minister Feleti Teo told the UN General Assembly that sea-level rise is already here, highlighting Tuvalu’s land reclamation (15.3 hectares reclaimed, 10 more underway) and welcoming the UN Political Declaration on Sea-Level Rise for affirming continuity of statehood and permanent maritime rights. Statehood, Sovereignty & Adaptation: The same UN declaration is framed as a safeguard against losing sovereignty or UN membership when land becomes uninhabitable—while maritime zones remain stable. Culture & Storytelling: Commonwealth Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh returned to Tuvalu for workshops that helped students and community leaders turn lived experience into writing, with a focus on identity and sea-level change. Pacific Feminist Forum: More than 140 feminists and rights defenders are set to gather in Fiji for the 4th Pacific Feminist Forum, centering feminist futures, justice, and climate action. Regional Voices Online: Pacific editors pledged stronger reporting on climate loss and damage, including harms that can’t be measured in money.

UN Diplomacy & Sea-Level Rights: Tuvalu PM Feleti Teo told the UN General Assembly that the new UN Political Declaration on Sea-Level Rise backs the continuity of statehood and keeps maritime boundaries “not erasable,” urging decisive action as seas threaten to erase land and identity. Coastal Adaptation at Home: Teo also said Tuvalu is reclaiming flood-free ground—15.3 hectares already created on Funafuti, with another 10 hectares underway—while using digital tools to safeguard sovereignty, institutions, culture, and heritage. Pacific Women, Water & Climate Justice: Ahead of pre-COP31 meetings in Fiji and Tuvalu, Pacific women’s rights groups are pushing for water security, gender equality, and climate justice to be treated as urgent priorities, not side issues. Tuvalu Stories in the Spotlight: Commonwealth Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh returned to Funafuti for workshops after weather postponed the national Cultural Festival, helping students and community leaders turn lived experience into writing. Regional Voices, Global Pressure: A wider UN-focused push highlights how small island states act as the world’s conscience on climate, warning that unequal power can leave them “drowned out.”

Climate Diplomacy: Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. told the UN General Assembly that rising seas are swallowing burial grounds and identity—and that small island states can’t be “drowned out” forever. Sea-Level Rights: UN delegates backed a declaration affirming countries don’t automatically lose statehood, sovereignty or UN membership when seas make land uninhabitable, and maritime zones stay stable. Tuvalu Culture & Education: Commonwealth Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh returned to Tuvalu for the first time, running eight days of writing workshops with students and community leaders after weather postponed the national Cultural Festival. Media & Loss Reporting: Pacific editors pledged stronger coverage of climate-related loss and damage, including cultural and social impacts, not just financial ones. Pacific Feminism: The 4th Pacific Feminist Forum opened in Fiji with more than 140 participants pushing “Feminist Futures, Just Pacific,” including women’s rights, disability rights, indigenous rights and LGBTQIA+ inclusion. Digital Sovereignty: Tuvalu PM Feleti Teo joined UNGA-side talks on safer, affordable digital connectivity, stressing protection for sovereignty, data, and Indigenous knowledge.

Culture & Language: Commonwealth Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh made her first visit to Tuvalu, spending eight days in Funafuti running creative writing workshops with students, teachers, aspiring writers and community leaders after weather postponed the national Cultural Festival. Climate & Statehood: At UNGA, island nations pushed back on the idea that rising seas should erase statehood, sovereignty or UN membership, as Guam and others face slower-moving risks like saltwater intrusion and coastal flooding. Media & Loss/ Damage: Pacific editors pledged stronger reporting on climate-related loss and damage in Fiji, aiming to cover cultural and social harms—not just financial impacts. Digital Sovereignty: Pacific leaders discussed digital connectivity at UNGA, stressing protection for Indigenous and traditional knowledge as Tuvalu and others expand online infrastructure. Women’s Rights & Community Voices: The 4th Pacific Feminist Forum in Fiji gathered 140+ activists across Oceania, spotlighting feminist futures, gender-diverse inclusion, and rights linked to faith, culture and bodily autonomy. Geopolitics: China–Taiwan influence battles surfaced at the PIF summit in Palau, with Taiwan’s foreign minister attending amid warnings of “consequences.”

Sea-Level Rise & Statehood: Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. says rising seas have swallowed Helen Island burial grounds, warning small island voices can get “drowned out” even at the UN—while a new UN push backs the idea that statehood and maritime rights shouldn’t vanish with coastlines. Tuvalu Focus: Tuvalu’s PM Feleti Teo frames sea-level rise as present reality, highlighting land reclamation on Funafuti and digital tools to safeguard sovereignty, culture, and heritage as the UN Political Declaration gains traction. Climate Reporting: Pacific editors in Fiji adopt the Savusavu Loss and Damage Media Forum Declaration, urging stronger coverage of cultural and social harms—not just financial losses. Digital & Culture: A Pacific digital connectivity side event stresses protecting Indigenous and traditional knowledge as connectivity grows. Pacific Feminist Forum: Fiji hosts the 4th Pacific Feminist Forum, bringing together activists and leaders on women’s rights, faith, bodily autonomy, and climate justice. Regional Diplomacy: India-Pacific talks under FIPIC in New York reaffirm cooperation on renewable energy, climate action, disaster resilience, education, healthcare, and capacity building. Geopolitics: The PIF summit in Palau spotlights China-Taiwan influence as Taiwan’s presence draws diplomatic pressure. Arts on Screen: Tagata Pasifika reports on Tuvalu’s Fakaapo Arts Festival despite weather delays.

Climate & Sea-Level Rise: Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Philip Davis urged decisive global action as rising seas threaten the nation’s future, stressing that survival can’t depend on luck and calling for adaptation finance that protects dignity, culture and the right to stay. Media & Loss/Damage: Pacific editors pledged stronger reporting on climate-related loss and damage, pushing newsrooms to cover economic and non-economic harms already hitting communities. Pacific Feminism: The 4th Pacific Feminist Forum opened in Fiji with more than 140 feminists and rights defenders, spotlighting women’s rights, disability rights, indigenous rights and social justice. Digital Sovereignty: Pacific leaders discussed protecting Indigenous and traditional knowledge as digital connectivity expands, including Tuvalu’s use of digital tools to preserve sovereignty and heritage. Geopolitics at UNGA/PIF: At the PIF summit in Palau, China-Taiwan influence tensions shaped participation, while India-Pacific cooperation talks in New York focused on renewable energy, climate action, disaster resilience, education and healthcare. Culture on Screen: Tagata Pasifika featured Tuvalu’s Fakaapo Arts Festival despite weather delays, highlighting local artists and visitors.

AI & Indigenous Knowledge: A Pacific digital connectivity dialogue at UNGA81 stressed protecting Indigenous and traditional knowledge as AI expands, after an OpenAI agent reportedly breached an Australian health data portal—raising fresh questions about who controls “new frontiers.” Climate Displacement & Rights: Prime Minister Philip Davis warned that up to 8.2 million people across the Caribbean could face displacement by 2050, urging adaptation finance that stays with communities and protects women and rural families. India–Pacific Cooperation: FIPIC foreign ministers, including Tuvalu’s FM, reaffirmed partnership with India on renewable energy, climate action, disaster resilience, education, healthcare, and tailored capacity-building. Pacific Feminist Momentum: Fiji hosted the 4th Pacific Feminist Forum, bringing 140+ activists to push feminist futures, bodily autonomy, and intersectional rights across Oceania. Sea-Level Reality for Tuvalu: A feature highlighted how low-lying states like Tuvalu are fighting to preserve sovereignty, nationality, and identity as seas rise.