Australia offers climate asylum to Tuvalu citizens

Canberra announced it would provide residents of Tuvalu, an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean that is particularly threatened by rising water levels, with rights… “special offers” To settle and work in Australia, under a treaty announced by the two countries on Friday, November 10.

“We believe the people of Tuvalu deserve to have the choice to live, study and work elsewhere, as climate change worsens.”The announcement was made, in a joint statement, by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his counterpart from Tuvalu, Kosia Natano.

The treaty stipulates rights “special offers” For arrivals, but also sections dedicated to defence, Australia is obligated to provide assistance to Tuvalu in the event of invasion or natural disaster. Residents of Tuvalué will be able to benefit from a “Access to Australian services, which will allow them to move around with dignity.”defines the text.

The small archipelago, with a population of 11,000 people, is one of the countries most threatened by climate change and rising sea levels. Two of its nine atolls have already been largely submerged, and specialists estimate that Tuvalu will be completely uninhabitable within eighty years.

China’s growing presence

In October, Mr Natano told AFP that the archipelago was at risk of collapse. “To disappear from the face of the earth” If drastic measures are not taken. The revealed treaty also wants to allow the people of Tuvalier to do so “Maintaining deep ancestral connections” They are united by their land and sea, but they realize that action comes too late.

Australia’s commercial dependence on coal and gas exports, polluting economic sources, has long been a stumbling block with its Pacific neighbours, who are already bearing the brunt of the consequences of climate change, including rising water levels and more extreme weather.

This treaty can be considered a strategic victory for Canberra, which intends to extend its influence in the ocean in the face of the growing Chinese presence. For example, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands have turned to Beijing in recent years. Tuvalu still opposes this by continuing to recognize Taiwan diplomatically.

Mr. Natano said that the treaty represented a ” Hopes “ And one “A big step forward” For regional stability. However, it still needs to be ratified by both countries to become effective.