As Tuvalu faces the existential threat of rising sea levels, more than one-third of the small Pacific island nation’s population is seeking to relocate to Australia under a new climate visa program.
Tuvalu, home to around 10,000 people across nine low-lying islands and coral atolls, is one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. NASA has found that by 2050, half of the main atoll of Funafuti, where the majority of Tuvalu’s residents reside, will be underwater during high tide. Two of the country’s nine islands are already nearly submerged.
In response to the dire situation, at least 1,124 Tuvaluans have entered the lottery for a new climate visa program established by Australia, with the total number of people seeking refuge, including spouses and children, reaching about 4,052.
Under the “Falepili Mobility Pathway” agreement, Australia has pledged to grant 280 special climate visas to Tuvaluans per year, allowing them to live, study, and work freely in Australia as climate impacts worsen. The agreement also aims to curb China’s influence over Tuvalu, requiring the island nation to seek Australia’s approval before making any security arrangements with other countries.
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