Tokelau is a tiny island territory in the Pacific administered by New Zealand. With a maximum altitude of three meters above sea level, Tokelau would be the first victim of rising seas due to global warming. The inhabitants of Tokelau have taken up the cause of clean renewable energy sources such as solar power, hoping that major polluting nations will take notice and perhaps follow their lead. The United Nations Development Program, New Zealand and France, are funding the effort to make the switch from commercial use of fossil fuels to solar power and other renewable sources. "Island nations worldwide may find it difficult to lobby effectively for global action unless we ourselves are seen to take all reasonable measures to progressively switch from fossil fuels to sustainable energy," said a Tokelau government official.
