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Tuvalu is sinking — what's next for residents?

Thorsten Iffland
September 16, 2025

Tuvalu is battling rising seas, but land reclamation can't stop the tide. Climate migration is no longer tomorrow's threat, but today's reality — and most islanders want out.

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Tuvalu, a small island nation in the South Pacific, is on the front lines of climate change. Rising sea levels and warming waters are threatening traditional livelihoods such as fishing, while overcrowding, limited infrastructure and food shortages are making daily life increasingly difficult.

With predictions that much of the country could be underwater within decades, many residents are applying for Australia's Falepili visa — a climate migration program offering permanent residency and access to services.

But leaving paradise isn't easy. Families are divided, with some determined to stay and others seeking a more sustainable future abroad. As land reclamation projects attempt to buy time, Tuvaluans face an uncertain future shaped by environmental displacement and global inaction.