This country is sinking — and citizens are competing to escape

Metro

31-07-2025

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The Kamchatka earthquake and tsunami in Russia put all the Pacific countries on high alert, but one island nation has already been preparing for an uncertain future.
Although Tuvalu is described as an 'unspoiled corner of the Pacific,' its residents are bidding on tickets to escape their sinking homeland before it's too late.
Some 2,600 miles west of Hawaii and more than 3,000 miles from mainland Australia, the island faces an uncertain future due to rising water levels, compounded by natural disasters like the 8.8 magnitude earthquake and tsunami yesterday.
People on the island were told to be on standby for the worst-case scenario yesterday after the country's disaster management office issued a tsunami alert until the threat passed and Tuvalu was given the all-clear.
Scientists at Nasa have predicted that the majority of land and critical infrastructure in Tuvalu will sit below the current high tide level by 2050.
The tiny Oceanic enclave is just 10 square miles, and, behind Vatican City, is the second least populated country in the world.
But more than a third of residents on the island have now gambled on their future, entering a dystopian ballot for a climate visa, which would allow them to flee and permanently migrate to Australia.
Only 280 visas will be awarded from a random ballot each year, distributed among the nation's 10,643 residents.
The price of safety? £11.93 per ballot.
The visa programme, spearheaded by Australia's Foreign Affairs Department, would provide permanent residency in Australia and the right to travel freely in and out of the country.
Visa holders would also have access to Medicare (Australia's state-funded health system), childcare subsidies and the right to study at Aussie schools. Essentially, the visa is a golden ticket to a new life.
At the same time, Australia and New Zealand have been funding construction in Tuvalu to fortify land being claimed by the sea and create new raised areas of land to tackle the threat of rising sea levels.
The Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project is working to protect the country's rapidly shrinking shorelines, as waters continue to rise.
Minister for Home Affairs, Climate Change, and Environment, Dr. Maina Vakafua Talia, said: 'We believe this work can provide valuable lessons for other atoll nations worldwide dealing with the adverse impacts of climate change.'
But even as governments are working to save Tuvalu and essentially evacuate residents with ballot visas, the island nation is still being touted to tourists as an 'untouched corner of the Pacific'.
The government's tourism board advertises the island as 'timeless', but the clock is ticking for Tuvalu, and other atoll nations.
By 2050, scientists warn that around 80% of the Maldives could become uninhabitable.
Male, the Maldivian capital which sits in the Indian Ocean, has been aware of the threat of rising sea levels, and has even reportedly begun building a floating city to deal with it.
But rising sea levels still pose a serious threat and could submerge the city.
The Netherlands is also sinking. It's no surprise – its lowest point is 22ft is below sea level. The Netherlands are part of the Low Countries, as they sit low, flat and close to the North Sea. More Trending
But although the Dutch are known for their flood defence techniques, sea levels are currently rising more than twice as fast as they were in the 20th century.
And they're in a better position than most of the Pacific nations facing climate change issues – each household in the Netherlands has $248,599 in net wealth, meaning they could easily move if the climate situation worsened.
Wealth is a different question in the Pacific island nations, where much of the nation relies on industries like agriculture, fishing and tourism for a livelihood.
This article was first published on June 27, 2025.
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