‘Tuvalu’ has become a point of discussion recently. Why?

Tuvalu is a small, low-lying island nation in the South Pacific, comprising nine coral atolls and islands [3]. It has become a focal point of global discussion due to its extreme vulnerability to climate change, specifically the threat of submergence from rising sea levels. With an average elevation of less than 2 metres above sea level, the nation faces existential risks from the melting of polar ice caps and glaciers, which contributes to thermal expansion and rising oceans [2]. The situation is so critical that Tuvalu is exploring digital statehood in the metaverse to preserve its identity if the physical land becomes uninhabitable. It is often cited as a 'canary in the coal mine' for climate change, representing the first wave of potential climate refugees as coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion worsen.

Sources

1. [3] https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20241121-tuvalu-the-pacific-islands-creating-a-digital-nation-in-the-metaverse-due-to-climate-change
2. [1] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 23: India and Climate Change > ag,z,4. Ris'e in Sea Lev-e! > p. 300
3. [2] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 7: Climate Change > 5. sea level rise > p. 14