Climate Migration Deal Between Tuvalu And Australia To Push Through After Sovereignty Concern Arise

The climate migration and security agreement between Australia and Tuvalu will proceed after Tuvalu's new government agrees not to change the deal.

Climate Migration Deal

The two nations had announced the agreement in November, but it was called into question during an election campaign in the tiny island nation of 11,000 inhabitants, which is threatened by rising sea levels.

Feleti Teo was elected as prime minister in February following a general election closely observed by Taiwan, China, the United States, and Australia amid a geopolitical struggle for power in the South Pacific.

Tuvalu is one of Taiwan's three surviving Pacific allies, after Nauru severed ties last month and turned to Beijing.

"The new government of Tuvalu has confirmed its desire to proceed with the Falepili Union," said Australia's Pacific minister, Pat Conroy.

Canberra agrees to help Tuvalu respond to a significant natural disaster, a health pandemic, or a military attack. This is contingent upon Tuvalu asking for such support.

The Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union Treaty is the first in the world to specifically establish a visa class for persons susceptible to the consequences of climate change, which threatens to render the island nation uninhabitable as sea levels rise.

Every year, up to 280 people will receive new visas that will allow them to live, work, and study in Australia.

Former Prime Minister Kausea Natano described the pact as a "beacon of hope" in which nations will help one another in the face of "climate change and geostrategic challenges."

Australia's foreign minister, Penny Wong, said it was "the most significant agreement between Australia and one of its Pacific partners since the agreements for Papua New Guinea's independence in 1975."

Read Also: Low-Lying Islands At Risk As Climate Change Raises Sea Levels

Sinking Island

Tuvalu's vulnerability to climate change, notably rising sea levels, stems from its geography.

The country has nine low-lying islands that make up the central Pacific nation, located roughly midway between Australia and Hawaii.

It faces two threats: global warming and the melting of polar ice caps and glaciers. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global sea levels have risen at an accelerated rate of 0.2 meters (0.7 feet) over the last century, hurting small island states.

In addition to rising sea levels, Tuvalu is being hammered by more frequent and severe weather events, including cyclones and storm surges. These disasters exacerbate the delicate balance of the island's ecosystems, making life more difficult for its occupants.

The sinking of Tuvalu has far-reaching consequences for the global community and serves as a warning of what may happen if urgent action to prevent climate change is not taken.

Tuvalu's loss would not only relocate its population but also wipe away its unique cultural legacy and history. The global community must realize the linkages between climate change, sea level rise, and community dislocation.

This situation also exemplifies the greater risks that other low-lying and island nations confront. The delicate ecosystems of these island nations are currently under attack, putting unique flora and wildlife at risk as rising sea levels submerge habitats, disturbing their fragile equilibrium.

Related Article: Australia Offers Visa Grant To Tuvalu Citizens Affected Of Climate Change