Maina Talia

The Honourable Dr. Maina Talia MP
Minister for Home Affairs, Climate Change, and Environment
Incumbent
Assumed office 27 February 2024
Prime Minister	Feleti Teo
Preceded by	Sa'aga Talu Teafa (Home Affairs) Ampelosa Manoa Tehulu (Environment)
Member of Parliament
Incumbent
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]

Climate change activism

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]

Political career

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]

References

1. Talia, Maina (30 May 2014). "My home is being swallowed by the sea. Will Australia do nothing?". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
2. Whaler, Jess (4 September 2023). "Maina Talia says climate change for Tuvaluans is a matter of life and death". National Indigenous Times. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
3. "Profiles Of The Civil Society Panelists" (PDF). Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat - 2017 Regional Civil Society Organizations Dialogue with Pacific Islands Forum Leaders, Apia, Samoa. 6 September 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
4. "Am I not your Tuakoi? A Tuvaluan Plea for Survival in a Time of Climate Emergency". Charles Sturt University, Faculty of Arts. 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
5. "Profile of Maina Talia". Council For World Mission DARE. 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
6. "Tuvalu general election: Six newcomers in parliament". Radio New Zealand. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
7. Marinaccio, Jess (10 February 2024). "Tuvalu's 2024 general election: a new political landscape". PolicyDevBlog. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
8. "Cabinet lineup of new Tuvalu government unveiled". Radio New Zealand. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.