mrlin's flickr photostream (creative commons)

Facing the threat of rising sea levels, the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu has decided to make a complete shift to renewable energy in order to set an example for larger countries to help fight climate change.  Hopefully when the U.N. meets in Copenhagen this December they heed the voices of small countries like Tuvalu, who will likely suffer first from climate catastrophe, yet contribute relatively the least to global emissions.  I applaud Tuvalu for taking swift, bold action to combat climate change, which for them is a matter of survival.  The chain of islands has the second lowest elevation in the world after the Maldives, which recently committed to going carbon neutral as well.

Tuvalu further exemplifies the urgent need for the international community to quit dallying over climate legislation, as more powerful cyclones have already brought damaging salt water onto crops.  It is, of course, much simpler for a country like Tuvalu to convert to using only solar and wind power than for larger, industrialized countries to switch, but their earnest commitment could be a catalyst for others that have hesitated.