Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Tuvalu, a small Pacific island nation, is experiencing a significant rise in sea levels, having increased by 21 centimetres over the past 30 years—almost twice the global average. This rise is heavily impacting the country’s existence, with projections suggesting that 95 percent of Tuvalu could be underwater by 2100 at the current trend. The rising sea levels are driven by global warming, which causes water expansion and accelerates ice sheet melting, compounded locally by ocean currents and winds creating a 'pile-up' effect on vulnerable islands like Tuvalu.
The primary day-to-day threat for Tuvalu is the increased number and intensity of high tides, which are overwhelming traditional coastal protection efforts. With much of Tuvalu averaging less than two metres above sea level, methods such as sea walls and mangrove planting are proving ineffective, as these measures are easily overtaken by king tides. This situation threatens not only the physical land but also Tuvalu’s sense of nationhood and future existence as a country.
In response, the Tuvalu government has taken innovative steps, including creating the first ‘digital nation’ in the metaverse in 2022. This initiative aims to safeguard Tuvalu’s statehood and culture should its physical territory disappear. Migration is also being considered as a possible solution, with more than 90 percent of Tuvaluans applying for visa schemes to obtain residency or citizenship in Australia by 2025.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is supporting Tuvalu’s efforts to protect its most populated islands and assist its community. UNDP representatives emphasize the need to protect the livelihoods of Tuvalu’s small population, which is on the frontline of the climate crisis, to avoid disrupting their daily lives.