Tuvalu is vulnerable to hurricane-force winds and rising seas.
Image: Peter Bennetts
Source: Museum Victoria
The very existence of a group of islands in the South Pacific is under threat from climate change. Tuvalu's plight is a sober reminder of the uncertain future offered by increases in global warming.
Tuvalu is imminently becoming the first nation to be uninhabitable as a result of climate change and rising sea levels. Located in the South Pacific, some 1050 kilometres north of its nearest neighbour, Fiji, Tuvalu means “eight standing together”, although it actually comprises nine low-lying reef islands and coral atolls.
Geographically, the tiny nation is one of the smallest in the world, after Monaco, the Vatican and Nauru. It lies partly in the southern tropical cyclone belt. In the southern summer, Tuvalu encounters severe hurricane-force winds and high seas. At times, Tuvalu is hit by out-of-season high winds and seas caused by weather disturbances far away, and these threaten life in the island nation.
Hurricane-force winds have recently become more frequent, causing storms and violent seas, which have threatened life and damaged infrastructure and property as well as depleting surrounding seas of fish – an essential food staple. Rising sea levels caused by global warming have increased salinity in the ground water (the only source of fresh water for human consumption and for agriculture).
Tuvalu’s greenhouse gas emission is miniscule in comparison to that of developed nations such as Australia. While the Tuvalu government has implemented a National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA) – involving projects identified to alleviate the effects of climate change and rising sea levels – ultimately the likely consequence for Tuvaluans will be forced migration.
New Zealand has agreed to welcome 75 immigrants annually; there are 9000 people presently living in Tuvalu. In 2001, the Australian government was asked to consider accepting migrants from Tuvalu. It refused to commit to this request. Undoubtedly, the people of Tuvalu will come to depend on the generosity of world communities for their survival.
This devastating impact of climate change on Pacific islands, and their populations, is being explored in a new exhibition at the Immigration Museum, Waters of Tuvalu: A Nation at Risk. This world-first exhibition project was developed collaboratively with Melbourne’s Tuvaluan community. The exhibition was launched by geographer, author and president of Greening Australia (Victoria), Mr Rob Gell.