Tuvalu builds a virtual future as rising seas threaten its existence

Facing the reality of sea level rise, Tuvalu is creating a digital replica of its islands, preserving its land, culture and statehood in the metaverse as climate change threatens to make the nation uninhabitable.

Sophie Yeo reports for the BBC.

In short:

• Tuvalu's "Digital Nation" project aims to preserve its geography and culture by creating a virtual twin of the islands, including digital passports to maintain sovereignty if its physical landmass disappears.
• Rising sea levels, intensified by global temperatures surpassing the critical 1.5°C threshold, threaten Tuvalu’s habitability, with much of the land projected to be below high tide by 2050.
• The initiative, part of a broader climate adaptation strategy, includes mapping the islands in 3D and installing undersea cables to enhance digital connectivity, serving as both preservation and a call for global climate action.

Key quote:

"It's our dignity, our culture, our heritage. It is not something we can pack into suitcases and take with us."

– Grace Malie, climate activist

Why this matters:

Tuvalu is writing its own elegy, pixel by pixel and while this virtual venture exemplifies the heartbreak of climate change, it’s also a defiant call to action. Read more: Scientists probe ancient history of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet and find unsettling news about sea level rise.