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The small island nation of Tuvalu, located in Polynesia, is facing a harsh reality: being swallowed by the sea. With rising sea levels caused by climate change, the country could disappear completely by 2050. To preserve its culture, identity and collective memory, the Tuvalu government has launched an innovative project that recreates the territory in the metaverse.
The announcement, made by Foreign Minister Simon Kofe during COP27 in 2022, shocked the world. Kofe presented stunning images of one of the islands already digitized, while emphasizing the urgency of the situation: “Seawater is already seeping through the soil, killing crops and spoiling drinking water.” This statement reinforces the devastating impact of climate change in the Pacific islands.
A digital nation in the metaverse
Dubbed “Digital Nation,” the project seeks to recreate the 3 islands that make up Tuvalu in 124D, as well as implement a blockchain-based digital identification system. The idea is to ensure the country’s continued existence, even if it is physically swallowed by the sea. With this, citizens, known as climate refugees, will be able to keep their nationality, culture, and memories alive in a virtual territory in the metaverse.
“We believe that preserving our nation in the metaverse is essential to maintaining our identity as a people, even if we are forced to leave our lands,” the minister said.
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Tuvalu at the center of climate debate as seas rise
Tuvalu's efforts have caught the world's attention, becoming a symbol of the fight against climate change. A deal with Australia is already in place, offering permanent visas to 280 Tuvaluan citizens annually, while NASA studies warn that much of the territory will be underwater by 2050.
Despite the technical and financial challenges of digitizing an entire country into the metaverse, the initiative demonstrates the urgency of protecting threatened island nations. Tuvalu’s case highlights the global need for more climate action to prevent other countries from facing the same fate: being swallowed by the sea.
A solution that mixes past and future
Tuvalu may be the first country to physically disappear, but the metaverse project shows that its history and culture will continue to exist. In the virtual world, the nation that was supposed to be swallowed by the sea turns into a symbol of resilience and innovation, inspiring other nations to prepare for the climate challenges of the future.
No one can stop nature... it may take longer, it pretends.