President Ramos-Horta demands direct climate finance and end to bureaucratic delays
DÍLI, 07 October 2026 (TATOLI) – President of the Republic José Ramos-Horta delivered a passionate call for urgent climate action at the Sautalaga dialogue in Tuvalu today, condemning the persistent lack of global political will to protect vulnerable island nations.
Addressing fellow leaders, the Head of State reflected on his global travels, noting that witnessing the severe climate impacts across the Pacific has been profoundly overwhelming. President Ramos-Horta starkly reminded the international community that the world is now “harvesting” the devastating consequences of 500 years of human environmental neglect, as rising seas, unpredictable weather, and depleted oceans threaten the very existence of small island developing states and least developed countries.
President Ramos-Horta boldly declared that vulnerable nations no longer need more scientific studies or costly expert reports.
Highlighting that basic artificial intelligence can easily compile existing climate data today, the President insisted that future climate finance must bypass bureaucratic hurdles, demanding that at least 80 percent of global funds be channeled directly to communities on the ground. This decisive stance strongly aligned with Tuvaluan leadership’s closing remarks, which stressed the urgent need to transition away from fossil fuels and deliver real, localized solutions instead of empty promises.
As a steadfast bridge of solidarity for fragile states, President Ramos-Horta specifically called upon Australia and Turkey, the expected co-chairs for the upcoming COP31, to ensure the summit yields highly meaningful financial outcomes rather than serving as another “talk shop.”
The President reaffirmed Timor-Leste’s unwavering commitment to standing with the Pacific, emphasizing that only through unified, decisive action, paddling in the same direction—can the international community secure a resilient and vibrant future for all island peoples confronting the climate crisis.
TATOLI
