"The Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Koloa Talake, should check his facts before threatening to take legal action against major countries and corporations who he claims are causing sea levels to rise and drown his island nation," says ACT Deputy Leader Ken Shirley. Mr Talake made his comments to the CHOGM forum.

"Like so much of the climate change hype the Tuvalu example is based on sensationalised fear mongering. Unfortunately report after report accepts the claim that sea levels are rising and Tuvalu is threatened with submergence.

"In reality the evidence does not support this. The Permanent Service for Ocean Sea Level Rise operated by the Proudman Oceanic Laboratory of the UK has recorded levels over the last 20 years and shown there is no discernible change in Tuvalu.

"The climate change issue is understandably being used by undeveloped countries to force restrictive policies on the developed world and encourage transfer payments in the form of aid assistance.

"The claim for aid, however, should be on merit, not on false claims that do not withstand proper scientific scrutiny," concluded Mr Shirley.

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