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Introduction

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1 Tuvalu, the fourth smallest nation in the world, announced its intention to become the world's first digital country back in 2022. But why, and how?

2 Facing the devastating effects of rising sea levels caused by climate change, the nation, made up of three reef islands and six atolls, is rapidly becoming uninhabitable. Tuvalu sits between Hawaii and Australia and is grappling with increasingly dire conditions. In 2022, at high tide, nearly 40% of the capital became submerged, according to the news agency Reuters. A recent assessment by scientists at NASA indicated that "much of the land plus critical infrastructure will sit below the level of the current high tide by 2050". And projections suggest the entire country could be underwater by the year 2100. Global warming has already displaced many of Tuvalu's 11,000 inhabitants, while coral bleaching and coastal erosion continue to degrade the surrounding environment.

3 This is why the government plans to back up the country and rebuild a virtual online replica. The announcement was first made at the UN Climate Change Conference, COP27 by Tuvalu's Minister of Justice, Simon Kofe. He said, "As our land slips below the ocean, we have no choice but to become the world's first digital nation. Our land, our ocean, our culture are the most precious assets of our people".

4 The country has since been preserving Tuvalu's cultural and historical identity by recording historical documents, maps, family photograph albums, traditional songs, and other cultural practices, all of which will be accessible online. In early 2024, Place, a global non-profit organisation, began mapping the physical features of Funafuti, Tuvalu's capital, using drones and 360-degree cameras.

5 Though moving a country online has legal challenges – international law requires a country to have territory and population, both of which are uncertain in Tuvalu's future. At the same time, critics argue the plan is just for publicity, highlighting the need to reduce emissions. Whatever happens, a digital twin of the country will help preserve its culture and heritage for generations to come.

Questions

1. Choose the best summary for this article

a. The global effects of climate change.
b. Using technology to fight climate change.
c. Tuvalu is using technology to preserve the country.

2. Choose the correct option based on the content of the article.

1. How could sea levels affect Tuvalu in 2100?

a. Rising sea levels could completely submerge the country.
b. 40% of the capital could be underwater.
c. Only critical infrastructure is likely to sit below the current high tide.

2. Aside from rising sea levels, what is contributing to the degradation of Tuvalu?

a. Displacement of the population
b. Weathering of the coastline
c. Wildlife

3. Simon Kofe says a digital replica is just one option of many they have for preserving the country.

a. True
b. False
c. Not given

4. What are historical documents, maps and traditional songs examples of?

a. Evidence of how Tuvalu will challenge international law.
b. Ways that the country is being mapped.
c. How the country is preserving its identity.

5. International law makes it difficult for Tuvalu to become a digital country.

a. True
b. False
c. Not given

3. Use the words from the list to complete the summary of the article.

Tuvalu is a country made up of islands and 1) ________ which is slowly being 2) ________ because of rising sea levels. Many of the country's inhabitants have already been 3) ________ and it's predicted that the entire country could 4) ________ the surface in the next decade. The government therefore plans to make a digital replica to 5) ________ the country's historical and cultural history.

grapple with
displaced
slip below
atolls
territory
preserve
submerged

Vocabulary

atoll
a ring-shaped island made of coral which surrounds an area of sea water

grapple with
try to deal with

high tide
the time when the sea reaches its highest level

infrastructure
important structures and systems, such as public water and transport

displaced
forced to leave your home

coral bleaching
the process of coral (a substance like rock) changing colour, often white, when water conditions are not healthy

back up
make an extra copy of digital information

slip below
move downwards, out of the correct position

preserve
keep something as it is, especially to avoid damage

territory
an area of land or sea controlled by a country

Answers

1. Choose the best summary for this article.

c. Tuvalu is using technology to preserve the country.

2. Choose the correct option based on the content of the article.

1. a.And projections suggest the entire country could be underwater by the year 2100.

2. b. …while coralbleaching and coastal erosion continue to degrade the surrounding environment.

3. False. He said, "we have no choice but to become the world’s first digital nation".

4. c. The country has since been preservingTuvalu's cultural and historical identity by recording historicaldocuments, maps, family photograph albums, traditionalsongs, and other cultural practices…

5. a. True. International law requires a country to have territory and population, both of which are uncertain for Tuvalu's future.

3. Use the words from the list to complete the summary of the article.

Tuvalu is a country made up of islands and atolls which is slowly being submerged because of rising sea levels. Many of the country's inhabitants have already been displaced and it's predicted that the entire country could slip below the surface in the next decade. The government therefore plans to make a digital replica to preserve the country's historical and cultural history.

Listen to the article.

Learn more phrases and expressions related to the climate in this episode of Phrasal Verbs with Georgie.

Learn more about the environment and climate change in English.