The small Pacific nation of Tuvalu - with just 11,000 residents - is on the brink of complete submersion within the next 25 years.
The small Pacific nation of Tuvalu - with just 11,000 residents - is on the brink of complete submersion within the next 25 years. According to NASA, the sea level around the islands has already risen by 15 centimeters over the past three decades. With an average height of only about two meters above sea level, much of the land, including residential homes, the airport, and freshwater supplies, will be underwater.
This is not just a threat to the territory - it is a threat to the disappearance of the unique culture and way of life of the Tuvaluans, who have lived in harmony with the sea and land for centuries. Storms and floods are increasingly destroying infrastructure and disrupting the community.
Tuvalu has already begun preparations for relocation: a treaty has been signed with Australia allowing for the annual acceptance of 280 residents for permanent settlement. At the same time, a digital copy of the islands is being created to preserve their history and statehood in virtual space.
But this is just the beginning of a large-scale climate catastrophe - over the past 30 years, the global ocean level has risen by 10 centimeters, and the rate of shoreline rise has doubled.
