Tuvalu, a Pacific island nation of 11,000 residents, is facing an existential crisis as rising sea levels threaten its very existence. NASA scientists project that by 2050, daily tides will submerge half of Funafuti, the main atoll where 60% of the population resides. The nation is implementing measures to combat the effects of climate change, including constructing sea walls and creating artificial land.
In a landmark treaty with Australia announced in 2023, Tuvalu has secured a migration pathway for 280 residents annually, starting next year. However, many Tuvaluans, like IT worker Maani Maani, express the emotional difficulty of leaving their homeland and culture.
As Tuvalu prepares for a high-level meeting at the United Nations General Assembly on September 25, 2024, Prime Minister Feleti Teo aims to gain international support to recognize Tuvalu's maritime boundaries as permanent, even as rising sea levels threaten its land. This recognition would be crucial for maintaining the nation's sovereignty and economic viability.
The UN's International Law Commission has indicated support for the idea that statehood could continue despite land loss due to climate change, but some member states oppose amending existing laws. Tuvalu's neighbors in the Pacific Islands Forum have expressed solidarity, affirming that the region's maritime boundaries remain fixed despite rising sea levels.
With only Taiwan and Fiji signing bilateral agreements to support Tuvalu's boundaries, concerns remain about illegal fishing and revenue loss. The outcome of the upcoming UN meeting could have significant implications for Tuvalu's future and the broader issue of climate change and statehood.