Name: Paul Nalau
Age: 29
Country: Vanuatu
Native Language: Tannese and Nohat
I come from the southern province of Vanuatu – Tafea, from an island called Tanna.
My experience of climate change is that changing weather patterns are affecting gardens – growing seasons, planting seasons, clearing seasons, in my grandad’s garden and the gardens of people in my village.
In my view, the most important issues regarding climate change in my country is the eradication of cultures from forced relocation.
The thing that I would most like to tell leaders at COP15 is pull your fingers out and sign the deal.
Taking strong action on climate change matters to me because it represents a vital right to life and existence and identity.
Here at COP15, I have a particular interest in learning and building networks and alliances to support the cause of small island states and to push for a concrete outcome that will hopefully address the issues that we are facing back home.
Beyond COP15, I would like to see concrete commitments from governments to recognise the role young people can play in addressing climate change and in nation building and democracy, which is why we are here participating in decisions that will affect and are already affecting our lives.
My vision for the future is a world where developed and developing countries can sit together not under the banner of capitalism or economic disparities or anything that separates us but under a banner of human rights, as humans, to discuss the basic survival needs of the human race from the threat of CC that is being imposed upon us.
