Enele Sopoaga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Enele Sopoaga
MP
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| Prime Minister of Tuvalu | |
| In office 1 August 2013 – 19 September 2019 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor-General |
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| Deputy |
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| Preceded by | Willy Telavi |
| Succeeded by | Kausea Natano |
| Foreign Minister | |
| In office 29 September 2010 – 24 December 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Apisai Ielemia |
| Succeeded by | Apisai Ielemia |
| Member of Parliament for Nukufetau |
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| Assumed office 16 September 2010 Serving with Lotoala Metia then Elisala Pita
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| Permanent Representative of Tuvalu to the United Nations | |
| In office 3 July 2001 – 19 December 2006 |
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| Prime Minister |
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| Secretary General | Kofi Annan |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Afelee F. Pita |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 February 1956 |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse | Salilo Enele |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford certificate University of Sussex |
Enele Sosene Sopoaga (born 10 February 1956) is a politician and diplomat from Tuvalu. He served as the Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2013 to 2019.
Sopoaga was first elected to Tuvalu's Parliament in 2010. He became deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs in a government that lasted only a few months. After a political change, he became the leader of the group opposing the government. In August 2013, he became the temporary prime minister during a political issue. Soon after, the government was voted out, and Sopoaga was chosen as the new prime minister. He officially took office on August 5, 2013.
Contents
About Enele Sopoaga
Early Life and Education
Enele Sopoaga studied at Oxford University in 1990, earning a certificate in diplomatic studies. Later, he received a master's degree from the University of Sussex in 1994. He is married to Salilo Enele, and they have three children. His older brother, Saufatu Sopoaga, also served as prime minister of Tuvalu from 2002 to 2004.
Working in Government and Diplomacy
Before becoming a politician, Sopoaga worked in various government roles. From 1980 to 1986, he was an Education Administrator. He then moved into foreign affairs, working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Economic Planning. He became a Permanent Secretary, which is a very high position in the civil service.
Sopoaga also represented Tuvalu in other countries. He was Tuvalu's High Commissioner to Fiji, and at the same time, to Papua New Guinea and Samoa. From 2001 to 2006, he was Tuvalu's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. This meant he was Tuvalu's main voice at the UN. He also helped lead the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), a group of small island nations. He was known as Tuvalu's "climate change negotiator," working to show the world the dangers of climate change in Tuvalu and other small islands.
Enele Sopoaga's Political Journey
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In 2010, Enele Sopoaga decided to enter politics and was elected to Parliament for the Nukufetau area. He was expected to become prime minister, but Maatia Toafa was chosen instead. Sopoaga then became the deputy prime minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Environment, and Labor in Toafa's government.
Leading the Opposition
Toafa's government ended quickly in December 2010 after a vote of no confidence. Sopoaga ran for prime minister but lost by one vote to Willy Telavi. This made Sopoaga the Leader of the Opposition.
As opposition leader, he continued to speak out about climate change. He asked for international help for Tuvalu, including new technologies to adapt to climate change. He also talked about the need for independent news in Tuvalu. He believed people needed "reliable information" about politics and other issues. To help with this, he started a newspaper company called Tala o Matagi (meaning "Story of the Wind") in 2011.
Becoming Prime Minister
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In August 2013, Prime Minister Willy Telavi was removed from office. Enele Sopoaga became the temporary prime minister. A few days later, Parliament voted, and Sopoaga was elected as the new Prime Minister of Tuvalu with 8 votes to 4. He was sworn in on August 5, 2013.
After becoming prime minister, Sopoaga said he would focus on making Tuvalu stronger against climate change in Tuvalu and global economic changes. He brought experienced politicians like Vete Sakaio and Maatia Toafa into his government. After the 2015 general election, Sopoaga was sworn in again as prime minister on April 10.
In 2017, as Minister for Public Utilities and Infrastructures, he launched the Tuvalu Atoll Science Technology Training Institute (TASTTI).
Recent Elections
Sopoaga was re-elected as a member of parliament in the 2019 general election. However, Kausea Natano was chosen as prime minister by the members of parliament. Sopoaga was also re-elected in the 2024 general election.
Working on Tuvalu's Constitution
In 2016, while Sopoaga was prime minister, a review of Tuvalu's Constitution began. This project looked at how the government and parliament work together. It also considered Tuvalu's promises under international law. The goal was to make sure the constitution fit Tuvalu's society and different beliefs.
In 2020, Enele Sopoaga joined a special committee to review the Constitution. Their work led to the Constitution of Tuvalu Act 2023, which updated the country's main law.
Fighting Climate Change for Tuvalu
Enele Sopoaga is well-known for his strong efforts to address the problems caused by global warming in Tuvalu.
At UN Climate Conferences
Sopoaga was a key speaker for small island nations at the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. He pushed for a global goal to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Although this was not fully accepted then, Tuvalu's strong voice drew attention.
At the 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Sopoaga felt more positive about the progress. He said that "goodwill prevailed" despite many challenges.
The Majuro Declaration
As prime minister, Sopoaga continued to work on international efforts against climate change. In 2013, he said that moving Tuvaluans away from their homes due to rising sea levels "should never be an option." He believed the world needed to act responsibly.
Under the Majuro Declaration, signed in 2013, Sopoaga promised that Tuvalu would aim for 100% renewable energy by 2020. This would mainly use solar power and some biodiesel.
Tuvalu's Climate Change Council
In January 2014, Prime Minister Sopoaga created the National Advisory Council on Climate Change. This council helps find ways to save energy and use more renewable energy. It also encourages businesses and groups to reduce greenhouse gases. The council helps Tuvalu prepare for and reduce risks from climate change.
Speaking at UN Climate Meetings
At the UN Climate Change Conference in Lima, Peru, in December 2014, Sopoaga stated, "Climate change is the single greatest challenge facing my country. It is threatening the livelihood, security and wellbeing of all Tuvaluans."
At the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21), Sopoaga was the main spokesperson for the Pacific Small Island Developing States. He strongly argued that the global temperature rise should be kept below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
In his speech, he said:
Tuvalu’s future at current warming, is already bleak, any further temperature increase will spell the total demise of Tuvalu…. For Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and many others, setting a global temperature goal of below 1.5 degrees Celsius relative to pre-industrial levels is critical. I call on the people of Europe to think carefully about their obsession with 2 degrees. Surely, we must aim for the best future we can deliver and not a weak compromise.
He ended his speech with a powerful plea:
Let’s do it for Tuvalu. For if we save Tuvalu we save the world.
Sopoaga highlighted that COP21 was important because it included help for small island states for "loss and damage" from climate change. It also set the goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees by the end of the century.
See also
- Politics of Tuvalu
- Sopoaga Ministry
