Australia will take in 280 residents of Pacific Island nation Tuvalu each year in the world's first formal climate migration agreement, a pathway that could see the entire nation resettled within decades. READ & WATCH: Tuvalu’s First Climate Migrants Arrive in Australia, World's First Climate Migration Treaty- transcript follows[Down To Earth- Latest news, opinion, analysis on environment and science issues, from India since 2013]
The smallest nations, those least responsible for the climate crisis, continue to bear its heaviest costs.This injustice is stark in Tuvalu, a small Pacific island nation whose first climate migrants have now relocated to Australia, leaving behind their homes and communities as their country faces the risk of disappearing. Scientists warn that Tuvalu’s long-term survival remains deeply uncertain under current global emissions trends. NASA projections show that in a worst-case scenario of two metres of sea-level rise, as much as 90% of Funafuti, the main atoll where most Tuvaluans live, could be underwater by 2050.
TRANSCRIPT
The smallest nations, those least responsible for the climate crisis, continue to bear its heaviest costs. This injustice is stark in Tuvalu, a small Pacific island nation whose first climate migrants have now relocated to Australia, leaving behind their homes and communities as their country faces the risk of disappearing. Before we get into the details of this story, please take a moment to subscribe to our channel down to earth for regular coverage on environment and development.
Tuvalu home to just 11,000 people, is among world's most climate vulnerable nations. Its nine low-lying atolls sit about 2 meters above sea level scattered across the Pacific between Australia and Hawaii. Saltwater intrusion, extreme tides, and several coastal erosions have already pushed some communities inland, even as the government races to reclaim land to keep parts of the country habitable.
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Scientists have warned Tuvalu's long-term survival remains deeply uncertain under current global emissions trend. NASA projections show that in a worst case scenario of 2 meters of sea level rise, as much as 90% of Fanafuti, the main atoll where most Tuvalians live could be underwater by 2050. Against this backdrop, more than onethird of Tuvalu's population has applied for a new climate visa to Australia under Australia Tuvalu's Felipe Union, the world's first formal climate migration agreement. Australia will take in 280 Tuvalians each year, a pathway that could see the entire nation resettled within a few decades.
The agreement guarantees towalians access to education, healthcare, disability support and family benefits along with settlement assistance to help them integrate. The visa is open to everyone, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities or chronic health conditions, making it one of the few pathways designed to support those who might otherwise be unable to leave high-risk climate zones.
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Among the first to make the move are Tuvalu's first female forklift driver, a dentist, and a pastor. Community figures now preparing to rebuild their lives thousands of kilometers from home. They hope to find work in Australia to support both their families back in Tuvalu and their new communities. Support services are already being set up to help them settle in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Queensland.
But can this really be a model for climate migration? Tuvalu had to agree to give Australia influence over its security and defense, a trade-off most countries would refuse. And unlike most vulnerable countries, Tuvalu's population is tiny. 10,000 people are easy for Australia to absorb.
Globally, an estimated 25 million to 1 billion people could be displaced by 2050 due to climate stress. Where will they go? Ultimately, the only real solution is to prevent further warming by cutting global emissions. Yet, these continue to rise. Until that changes, the world's smallest nations will keep paying the biggest price. FIN
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