The state of Tuvalu will become part of the meta-universe because of the risk of going completely underwater

Photo by: CHUNYIP WONG / iStock

Rising global sea levels are one of the consequences of climate change, threatening the small island nation of Tuvalu with complete inundation. In order to preserve the country’s unique history and culture, the government has decided to create a digital replica of it. In this way, Tuvalu will become part of the meta universe, using augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology.

“As our land is disappearing, we have no choice but to become the first digital country. Our land, our ocean, our culture are our people’s most precious assets. To keep them safe, no matter what happens in the physical world, we will move them to the cloud,” said Tuvalu Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Coffee at the COP27 climate summit.

Tuvalu is a tiny Pacific state in Polynesia. It is located on 5 atolls and 4 islands of the Tuvalu Archipelago, which lies between Australia and Hawaii. The total land area is 26 sq km with the population of about 12 000. Already today, nearly 40% of the capital atoll of Funafuti goes underwater at high tides. There are tangible risks that in 80 years the ocean will swallow up the entire group of islands.

Simon Coffee hopes that the creation of a digital version will allow Tuvalu to continue functioning as a nation, even if it is completely submerged. That is, regardless of climate change, the country will be recognised internationally and its maritime borders and resources will be preserved even underwater.

According to the minister, Tuvalu has been working on the possibility of a virtual presence for a year. Coffee warned other nations around the world that in the absence of decisive action to curb global warming, the whole world would join the online existence.

In 2021, Tuvalu’s foreign minister recorded a speech for the UN climate conference (COP26) while standing knee-deep in water. He wanted to draw attention to the Pacific nation’s climate problems in this way.

Cover photo: Maximilien Leblanc / iStock