Tuvalu, just like the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, feels they are victims of energy-hungry economies, such as the United States, Europe and Asia whose industries and transport belch vast amounts of greenhouse gases into the air.

"I would say the situation is very scary now," Toafa told Reuters in Tokyo, prior to a two-day leaders' summit of Japan and 14 Pacific island nations that starts on Friday.

"Even recently, one of the islands by (our) main island capital just disappeared," he added.

"It will be very sad if Tuvalu actually disappears. So we only hope that everybody makes an effort to reverse global warming -- that is our only hope."

Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Many scientists say rapidly increasing levels of these gases is warming the planet, causing glaciers and ice sheets to melt and sea levels to rise.

The issue is set to top the agenda at the meeting on Japan's southern island of Okinawa.

Tuvalu will keep fighting, Toafa said, adding that one part of the fight might involve legal action against the United States, the world's top emitter of carbon dioxide.

Tuvalu would seek compensation as well as symbolic recognition of its situation in perhaps two to three years.

"It's just a matter of time for us to be able to prove if there is a strong case, and then definitely we will do something about that," he said.

TWO METRES AND FALLING

Most of Tuvalu is only 2 metres (6 feet) above sea level and the highest elevation is 5 metres. So-called king tides have become stronger in recent years, swamping large areas and flooding crops and homes.

Last February, high tides and strong winds sent waves across the main road in the capital Funafuti. The increasing salinity of groundwater has forced many islanders to grow crops in tins.

Midway between Australia and Hawaii, too remote for the tourism that is a key source of income for other South Pacific nations, Tuvalu lives on aid and by leasing out its Internet domain name, ".tv."

It also leases fishing rights to places such as Japan and South Korea, but these marine resources are under threat from rising ocean temperatures.

If waters keep rising, the 12,000 people of Tuvalu will become environmental refugees forced to resettle elsewhere.

"Like the saying goes, there is no better place than home -- and of course, Tuvalu is our home. We don't want it to disappear."

During the summit, Japan plans to make a fresh aid offer that some media have said could be as high as 40 billion yen (US$350 million) over three years.

Just last month, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited Fiji and offered a sweeping package of economic aid, including zero-tariff agreements and 3 billion yuan (US$375 million) in loans, to Pacific island nations that support a one-China policy.

Some analysts say Japan's interest in the region is sparked at least partly by a desire not to lose influence to rising economic superpower China, but a Japanese Foreign Ministry official denied this.

"We have no intention of competing with China," he said.