Rising ocean levels threaten to engulf the island nation of Tuvalu. As of this year, Australia is giving Tuvalu citizens "climate visas" and other benefits. Is this the future for other parts of the world threatened by climate change?
Tuvalu is one of the smallest countries in the world - it consists of nine islands and atolls in the South Pacific. In total, it has an area of only about 26 square kilometers - just a little more than three times the size of Ade Ciganlije.
The capital is Funafuti, where half of the total population of just over 10.000 lives - is a ring-shaped coral island with a lagoon in the middle. Approximately 91 percent of Tuvalu's population is Christian, Calvinist.
Tuvalu is threatened by: Due to sea level rise caused climate change, floods occur more and more often. Scientists warn that the whole of Tuvalu could disappear under water in the next 35 years, writes Deutsche Welle.
It is an existential threat for a country where 70 percent of the population is between the ages of 15 and 65.
One in three applied for a climate visa
That is why every third inhabitant of the island has already applied for the first climate visa in the world, which from this year enables permanent immigration to Australia, whose east coast is about 3000 kilometers away.
Unlike most visas, which are related to work or studies, the climate visa allows free movement without obligations. This means people can come to Australia to work, educate their children or simply live more safely.
Who is eligible for this visa?
Each year, 280 people are chosen by secret ballot who meet the following conditions: they are at least 18 years old, have a Tuvaluan passport, were born in Tuvalu, or have a parent or grandparent who was born there.
The visa application is also made possible for people with disabilities, chronic diseases or special needs - categories that until now have often been excluded from other visas for Australia.
Those who already hold New Zealand citizenship cannot participate in the lottery, as priority is given to those who have no other options.
More than 3.000 people have already applied for the first round of visas, meaning someone could be waiting more than 10 years for approval today. However, the agreement foresees that the number of seats will be increased if necessary.
Tuvalu remains a sovereign state - even if it sinks
Namely, in response to Tuvalu's appeal for help, in August 2024, Australia signed the Falepili Agreement with that country - which includes cooperation on climate issues, dignified mobility and shared security.
As of this year, a "special mobility channel" came into effect, giving Tuvaluan citizens the right to travel freely between the two countries. And - for the first time - a special climate visa was introduced.
The path to permanent residence brings benefits such as subsidized education, health insurance, disability insurance, tax relief for families, childcare subsidies and youth benefits.
In the event of a major natural disaster, health crisis or armed attack, Australia is committed to providing assistance to Tuvalu.
The agreement recognizes the "deep cultural and historical connection of the people of Tuvalu to the land and the sea" and guarantees the preservation of statehood and sovereignty, even if the country becomes uninhabitable.
Tuvalu is a former colony of Great Britain that gained independence in 1978 and is also known as the Ellis Islands. Tuvalu is a parliamentary democracy and member of the Commonwealth, with Charles III as king. Since the king lives far away, he is represented in Tuvalu by a governor, who is appointed by the king on the advice of the prime minister of Tuvalu.
A climate migrant is not the same as a refugee
Kamal Amakrane from the UN Global Center for Climate Mobility assesses that the Falepili agreement is a "historic shift" - because it does not treat people as classic refugees, but allows them dignified preparation and a free decision on whether they want to migrate.
However, most people still want to stay on the island. "People don't want to leave the place they call home," says Amakrane. "So the question is - how do we help them stay, if at all possible?"
Other countries - islands - are also threatened
More than 80 percent of the world's migrations between 2008 and 2018 - caused by the climate - took place precisely in the Asia-Pacific region, at the center of which Tuvalu is located. The Maldives, Marshall Islands and Kiribati face similar threats.
The United States has had similar agreements with Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau for years – but with limited access to public services.
States generally react only after a climate disaster occurs. For example, Argentina introduced a humanitarian visa in 2023 for people in Latin America affected by climate shocks, but only after they had already been forced to leave their homes.
In Africa, the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration and Climate Change was signed in 2023, which should bring regional responses to climate challenges.
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