Login
More than 80% of residents of the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu have applied for climate visas to move to Australia, the Australian diplomatic mission in Tuvalu has reported.
As noted in the diplomatic mission's social media post, a total of 8750 applications were submitted, including family members of the main applicants. With a population of about 10 thousand people, this is more than 80% of the total number of residents of the state.
The climate visa program was launched in June this year as part of an agreement between Australia and Tuvalu that allows residents of the island state to migrate to the Australian mainland due to the threat of climate change and rising sea levels.
Of the total number of applicants, only 280 people will receive climate visas, who will be selected through a random draw. The lottery will be conducted by the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
Tuvalu, located in the South Pacific, faces a serious threat from rising sea levels caused by climate change. According to UNICEF, by 2100 about 95% of the country's territory could be flooded.