Tuvalua small state of the Polynesia Made up of nine islands and atoles, it is in danger of disappearing under the ocean.
The country, located between Australia and Hawaii, has only 11,000 inhabitants and an area of 26 km². The threat of rising sea levels and intensifying cyclones has pushed its citizens to opt for migration.
In June 2025, Tuvalu signed an agreement with Australiawhich agreed to receive 280 people a year on a permanent basis. In a few weeks, more than 5,100 inhabitants registeredwhich represents about half of the population.
A report of the NASA in 2023 He noted that the ocean rose 15 cm in three decades and will continue to rise about 5 mm each year. By 2050, much of the habitable areas will be under high tide.
The situation affects daily life: rains are the only source of fresh water and saline floods destroy crops.
In 2021, then-PM Simon Kofe showed the world the seriousness of the problem by giving a speech from the sea during the UN climate conference.
Between agreements and tensions
The pact with Australia was described by international representatives as the first of its kind in the world. However, it also received criticism. The former minister Enele Sopoaga accused Canberra of promoting a scheme of “neo-colonialism” for the article that grants Australia veto power on national security issues.
The discussion adds to the phenomenon known as “carbon colonialism”in which countries or companies exploit the climate crisis for political or economic gain, even at the expense of vulnerable communities.
Not all Tuvaluans plan to emigrate. In 2017 the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project (TCAP)which created raised lands and protective walls. In 2024, the first phase was completed with 7.8 new hectares and 2.78 km of reinforced coastline. A second stage, with financial support from Australia, New Zealand and the United States, is underway and seeks to finish in 2026.
Furthermore, in 2022 the government announced a long-term adaptation planwhich includes the construction of “Te Lafiga o Tuvalu” (The Tuvalu Refuge). This project contemplates 3.6 km² of elevated land to relocate the entire population with sustainable water, energy and food.
Digital nation and heritage
Tuvalu also embarked on a project to become the first “digital nation” of the world. The plan includes the creation of a 3D map of the territory and the application of its cultural landscape to the UN World Heritage List.
The Minister of Climate, Maina Taliadeclared that disappearance is not part of the identity of his people and highlighted that resilience is in the DNA of Tuvaluans. However, he warned about the moral responsibility of rich countries and the impact of new fossil fuel exploitation.
“For us Tuvaluans, disappearance is not part of who we are. Resilience is always part of our being, it is part of our DNA. We do not want Tuvalu to become a memory,” the minister told AFP.
Rising sea levels already cause salt water to gush up during tides in the capital, Funafuti.
*The creation of this content was assisted by artificial intelligence. The source of this information is from Grupo de Diarios América (GDA) media and reviewed by an editor to ensure its accuracy. The content was not generated automatically.
