Why in News? 

Under the Falepili Union Treaty (2023), Tuvalu will relocate its population to Australia marking the world’s first planned migration due to climate change-induced sea-level rise.   

• Starting in 2025, Australia will accept 280 Tuvaluans annually as permanent residents (ballot-based “climate visa”) and grant them equal rights to healthcare, education, housing, and jobs. 

Threat to Tuvalu’s Existence:  

• Average elevation = 2 meters above sea level; vulnerable to floods, storms, and coastal erosion.  
• NASA predicts submergence of most of its land by 2050.  

Key Facts about Tuvalu:  

• Location: Lies between Australia and Hawaii (South Pacific Ocean) 
• Capital: Funafuti 
• Independence: from UK (1978) 
• Tuvalu Trust Fund: A financial support mechanism funded by Australia, New Zealand, UK, Japan, and S. Korea