The First Planned Migration of an Entire Country Is Underway
9 months ago
- #Tuvalu
- #migration
- #climate change
- Tuvalu is planning the first entire country migration due to climate change, with projections of much of its territory being submerged in the next 25 years.
- The country, consisting of nine coral islands and atolls with an average altitude of 2 meters, is highly vulnerable to rising sea levels and flooding.
- NASA's Sea Level Change Team found that Tuvalu's sea level was 15 cm higher in 2023 than the average over the previous three decades, with most of the territory expected to be below high-tide level by 2050.
- Tuvalu and Australia signed the Falepili Union Treaty in 2023, allowing 280 Tuvaluans per year to migrate to Australia as permanent residents through a ballot system.
- The first application stage saw 8,750 registrations, with the first cohort of 280 to be selected on July 25.
- Experts estimate that nearly 4% of Tuvalu's population could migrate annually, with up to 40% potentially relocating within a decade.
- Australia's foreign minister emphasized the program's aim to allow Tuvaluans to settle with dignity as climate impacts worsen.
- Tuvalu's prime minister called for international support and treaties to address sea level rise and phase out fossil fuels.
- Tuvalu is also working on becoming the first digital nation, including 3D scanning its islands and moving government functions online to preserve its cultural heritage and sovereignty.
- Other nations may face similar threats, as global sea levels have risen more than expected, with Pacific islands and the Gulf of Mexico particularly affected.
- Climate change is disrupting global water systems, leading to extreme weather events that threaten lives, economies, and ecosystems.