Pacific leaders visit Tuvalu as rising seas threaten homes, reefs and food supplies
Fourteen leaders, including Australia’s Anthony Albanese, visited Tuvalu ahead of COP31 to see rising-sea impacts and a land-reclamation project intended to protect communities. Agence France-Presse reports that two of Tuvalu’s nine atolls have been largely swamped, while a 2024 marine heatwave destroyed an estimated 99.9% of the coral that built the islands.
Bottom line — Tuvalu is planning for the possible relocation of its 10,600 residents as climate pressures threaten the islands’ habitability.
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The visit took place alongside a Pacific pre-COP meeting hosted by Fiji; COP31 is due to take place in Türkiye next month, according to Agence France-Presse.
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Funafuti’s highest point is just 2 metres above sea level, AFP reports.
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Local scientist Rajneel Singh told AFP that fish catches are less frequent and fish have become smaller, affecting food sources.
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Tuvalu’s climate minister, Maina Vakafua Talia, said the visit is intended to show both the threat and local efforts to protect communities.
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The World Bank estimates that adapting Tuvalu to a 0.5-metre sea-level rise could cost about €920 million (US$1 billion), around 20 years of current GDP.