CNBC's Anmar Frangoul is reporting that Australia is offering refuge to Pacific island nation of Tuvalu which is threatened by rising sea levels.
Australia has established a new bilateral treaty, the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union, with Tuvalu to address challenges posed by climate change, including security, migration, and education. This treaty includes a provision for a "special mobility pathway" allowing up to 280 Tuvaluans annually to work, study, and live in Australia. This move acknowledges Tuvalu's vulnerability to climate change, particularly rising sea levels, given its small population of just over 11,000 people spread across nine islands. The Australian government has also committed to assisting Tuvalu in the event of natural disasters, health pandemics, or military aggression. Both nations have agreed to consult each other on security and defense-related engagements with other states or entities. This agreement is a response to the pressing need for solutions to the significant impacts of climate change, as evidenced by Tuvalu's advocacy for a global treaty to phase out fossil fuels at the COP27 climate summit. Additionally, the treaty supports a land reclamation project in Tuvalu's capital, Funafuti, expanding the land by about 6% to accommodate housing and essential services as sea levels rise. This arrangement symbolizes a shift towards addressing climate change through adaptation and promoting "human mobility with dignity."
Source: CNBC
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/10/australia-offers-refuge-to-tuvalu-residents-threatened-by-rising-sea-levels.html
(This article was written with assistance from ChatGPT)
