Could we soon see a country erased by climate change?

Nine islands

Nine islands, It’s the fourth-smallest country in the world, Religion, World War II sites, Still has a relationship with the monarchy, Diving and snorkelling, Agriculture, Rising sea level threat, Damaging self-sufficiency, Other harmful impacts of climate change, Increased storm activity, Limited freshwater supply, Under threat, Potential plans, There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees, Some are heading to New Zealand

Its nine islands comprise six small, thinly populated atolls and three reef islands with palm-fringed beaches.

It’s the fourth-smallest country in the world

Nine islands, It’s the fourth-smallest country in the world, Religion, World War II sites, Still has a relationship with the monarchy, Diving and snorkelling, Agriculture, Rising sea level threat, Damaging self-sufficiency, Other harmful impacts of climate change, Increased storm activity, Limited freshwater supply, Under threat, Potential plans, There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees, Some are heading to New Zealand

It's the smallest after Vatican City, Monaco, and Nauru, but Tuvalu has its own currency, the Tuvaluan dollar, and they also use the Australian dollar.

Religion

Nine islands, It’s the fourth-smallest country in the world, Religion, World War II sites, Still has a relationship with the monarchy, Diving and snorkelling, Agriculture, Rising sea level threat, Damaging self-sufficiency, Other harmful impacts of climate change, Increased storm activity, Limited freshwater supply, Under threat, Potential plans, There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees, Some are heading to New Zealand

The majority of the population belongs to the Church of Tuvalu, or what was once the Ellice Islands Protestant Church.

Sports

Nine islands, It’s the fourth-smallest country in the world, Religion, World War II sites, Still has a relationship with the monarchy, Diving and snorkelling, Agriculture, Rising sea level threat, Damaging self-sufficiency, Other harmful impacts of climate change, Increased storm activity, Limited freshwater supply, Under threat, Potential plans, There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees, Some are heading to New Zealand

Sports play a huge role in daily life in Tuvalu. When planes aren't expected, young people ride bikes and play volleyball, basketball, and soccer on the airstrip.

World War II sites

Nine islands, It’s the fourth-smallest country in the world, Religion, World War II sites, Still has a relationship with the monarchy, Diving and snorkelling, Agriculture, Rising sea level threat, Damaging self-sufficiency, Other harmful impacts of climate change, Increased storm activity, Limited freshwater supply, Under threat, Potential plans, There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees, Some are heading to New Zealand

"Borrow pits" were created by the US military to build an airstrip during WWII, leaving scars on the land that were later filled with sand and populated by houses.

Still has a relationship with the monarchy

Nine islands, It’s the fourth-smallest country in the world, Religion, World War II sites, Still has a relationship with the monarchy, Diving and snorkelling, Agriculture, Rising sea level threat, Damaging self-sufficiency, Other harmful impacts of climate change, Increased storm activity, Limited freshwater supply, Under threat, Potential plans, There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees, Some are heading to New Zealand

Prince William and Kate Middleton also visited in 2012, and pictured they're drinking coconut milk from a tree planted by the late Queen during her visit in 1982.

Diving and snorkelling

Nine islands, It’s the fourth-smallest country in the world, Religion, World War II sites, Still has a relationship with the monarchy, Diving and snorkelling, Agriculture, Rising sea level threat, Damaging self-sufficiency, Other harmful impacts of climate change, Increased storm activity, Limited freshwater supply, Under threat, Potential plans, There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees, Some are heading to New Zealand

The Funafuti Conservation Area, off the coast of the capital, offers calm waters for diving and snorkelling among sea turtles and tropical fish.

Agriculture

Nine islands, It’s the fourth-smallest country in the world, Religion, World War II sites, Still has a relationship with the monarchy, Diving and snorkelling, Agriculture, Rising sea level threat, Damaging self-sufficiency, Other harmful impacts of climate change, Increased storm activity, Limited freshwater supply, Under threat, Potential plans, There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees, Some are heading to New Zealand

Coconut palms thrive in Tuvalu, as well as breadfruit trees, pandanus, taro, and bananas. Pigs and chickens are raised on the islands, and fish and shellfish are caught for food too.

Rising sea level threat

Nine islands, It’s the fourth-smallest country in the world, Religion, World War II sites, Still has a relationship with the monarchy, Diving and snorkelling, Agriculture, Rising sea level threat, Damaging self-sufficiency, Other harmful impacts of climate change, Increased storm activity, Limited freshwater supply, Under threat, Potential plans, There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees, Some are heading to New Zealand

The beautiful island nation is struggling to cope with climate change-related impacts, largely the rising sea levels of 0.2 in (5 mm) per year since 1993, which is well above the global average.

Damaging self-sufficiency

Nine islands, It’s the fourth-smallest country in the world, Religion, World War II sites, Still has a relationship with the monarchy, Diving and snorkelling, Agriculture, Rising sea level threat, Damaging self-sufficiency, Other harmful impacts of climate change, Increased storm activity, Limited freshwater supply, Under threat, Potential plans, There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees, Some are heading to New Zealand

The salt water poisons the thin soil and makes growing crops very difficult, making the Tuvaluans increasingly dependent on expensive imports.

Other harmful impacts of climate change

Nine islands, It’s the fourth-smallest country in the world, Religion, World War II sites, Still has a relationship with the monarchy, Diving and snorkelling, Agriculture, Rising sea level threat, Damaging self-sufficiency, Other harmful impacts of climate change, Increased storm activity, Limited freshwater supply, Under threat, Potential plans, There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees, Some are heading to New Zealand

Along with rising sea levels, the rising temperatures pose a threat to the nation, and the coasts of the coral atolls and islands are being eroded, shrinking the already small land.

Increased storm activity

Nine islands, It’s the fourth-smallest country in the world, Religion, World War II sites, Still has a relationship with the monarchy, Diving and snorkelling, Agriculture, Rising sea level threat, Damaging self-sufficiency, Other harmful impacts of climate change, Increased storm activity, Limited freshwater supply, Under threat, Potential plans, There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees, Some are heading to New Zealand

Trees are washed into the sea as the island is undercut, making it even easier for flooding and further erosion.

Limited freshwater supply

Nine islands, It’s the fourth-smallest country in the world, Religion, World War II sites, Still has a relationship with the monarchy, Diving and snorkelling, Agriculture, Rising sea level threat, Damaging self-sufficiency, Other harmful impacts of climate change, Increased storm activity, Limited freshwater supply, Under threat, Potential plans, There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees, Some are heading to New Zealand

Only rain catchment and wells provided fresh water, but since the rising ocean contaminated underwater ground supplies, Tuvalu became totally reliant on rainwater, stored in large collection tanks. Climate change, however, is increasing the frequency of droughts.

Under threat

Nine islands, It’s the fourth-smallest country in the world, Religion, World War II sites, Still has a relationship with the monarchy, Diving and snorkelling, Agriculture, Rising sea level threat, Damaging self-sufficiency, Other harmful impacts of climate change, Increased storm activity, Limited freshwater supply, Under threat, Potential plans, There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees, Some are heading to New Zealand

Many predict that Tuvalu will become the first country to disappear as a result of climate change.

Potential plans

Nine islands, It’s the fourth-smallest country in the world, Religion, World War II sites, Still has a relationship with the monarchy, Diving and snorkelling, Agriculture, Rising sea level threat, Damaging self-sufficiency, Other harmful impacts of climate change, Increased storm activity, Limited freshwater supply, Under threat, Potential plans, There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees, Some are heading to New Zealand

Tuvalu is reportedly considering building an artificial island, to dredge and reclaim land at the south of Fongafale, raise the land 33 ft (10 m) above sea level, and build high-density housing. It is a plan that would reportedly cost US$300 million, but which has no funding.

There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees

Nine islands, It’s the fourth-smallest country in the world, Religion, World War II sites, Still has a relationship with the monarchy, Diving and snorkelling, Agriculture, Rising sea level threat, Damaging self-sufficiency, Other harmful impacts of climate change, Increased storm activity, Limited freshwater supply, Under threat, Potential plans, There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees, Some are heading to New Zealand

But Tuvalu’s ex-prime minister, Enele Sopoaga, rejects this “defeatist” attitude. He says the government is concentrated on adapting to the changing weather patterns in order to stay put.

Nine islands, It’s the fourth-smallest country in the world, Religion, World War II sites, Still has a relationship with the monarchy, Diving and snorkelling, Agriculture, Rising sea level threat, Damaging self-sufficiency, Other harmful impacts of climate change, Increased storm activity, Limited freshwater supply, Under threat, Potential plans, There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees, Some are heading to New Zealand

Fiji has reportedly offered land to the Tuvaluan government to relocate their population 745 mi (1,200 km) south, though Tuvalu has not accepted. Former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd suggested Tuvalu’s citizens could be offered full citizenship in exchange for their country’s maritime and fisheries rights, but Sopoaga rejected the proposal as "imperial thinking."

Some are heading to New Zealand

Nine islands, It’s the fourth-smallest country in the world, Religion, World War II sites, Still has a relationship with the monarchy, Diving and snorkelling, Agriculture, Rising sea level threat, Damaging self-sufficiency, Other harmful impacts of climate change, Increased storm activity, Limited freshwater supply, Under threat, Potential plans, There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees, Some are heading to New Zealand

More of the younger generations are coming to terms with migration, and New Zealand has been receiving Tuvaluans in increasing numbers.

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