Context: Tuvalu is a group of 9 atolls located in Pacific Ocean. Climate change and rising sea level rise means that the islands are facing a risk of submergence.
Tuvalu Islands
- Tuvalu is an island nation located in the Central Pacific Ocean with a total area of only 26 sq km.
- Funafuti is the capital of Tuvalu.
- The island country has a population of about 11,000 people.
- Since the islands is spread over a wide area of 900,000 sq km in the Pacific Ocean (twice the size of California). Tuvalu has a large exclusive economic zone in the pacific ocean, which is rich in ocean resources.
- The country is located on a group of 9 atolls, whose mean elevation is just 2 metres.
- Recent measurements reveal that Tuvalu has experienced a sea level rise of 15 cm over the past three decades, which is one and half times of the global average.
- According to projections by NASA, by 2050 daily tides will submerge half of main atoll of Funafuti, which is home to 60% of Tuvalu's residents.
- Salt-water incursion has ruined groundwater creating a crisis of freshwater availability. This has forced residents of Tuvalu to depend on rainwater tanks and a central raised garden for growing vegetables and food items.
What is Tuvalu doing for this crisis?
- Tuvalu has entered into a landmark climate and security treaty with Australia in 2023 which allows 280 Tuvaluans to move to Australia annually.
- Construction of sea walls and barriers to guard against worsening sea storms.
- Building of 7 hectares artificial land which can stay above tides.
Tuvalu and UNCLOS
- Under the UNCLOS, the extent of maritime zone is decided by features of permanently dry land.
- Baseline for a maritime zone may be established by reference to the low-water line of a feature that is above water at all times. However, due to the rising sea level and possible submergence, island nations like Tuvalu risk losing or diminishing their Exclusive Economic Zones.
- Thus, Tuvalu has called for amending the UNCLOS which allows countries like it to permanently retain control of its vast maritime zone with large blue economy like fishing rights and mining of seabed minerals.
- According to current international law, dry land is also essential for recognition of sovereignty. Tuvalu has been campaigning to its maritime boundaries and statehood recognised for permanent.