Posted on 21 November 2023
At this month's Pacific Islands Forum leader’s meeting, Anthony Albanese, Australia Prime Minister, and Kausea Natano, Tuvalu Prime Minister, announced that Australia would offer residency to Tuvaluans forced to relocate due to climate change.
The treaty is the first program in the Pacific to facilitate mobility due specifically to climate change, and under it 280 Tuvaluans per year will be able to get a visa to work, study and live in Australia.
The union is founded on three pillars – climate change, human mobility and security– and meets Tuvaluans request for support as they face the impacts of climate change, as well as reflecting Australia’s strategic goals.
“Tuvalu is extremely vulnerable to the impact of climate change, especially rising sea levels, and is trying to preserve its culture, traditions and land”, said Albanese. “I believe that developed nations have a responsibility to provide assistance and that is precisely what we are doing through this Falepili Agreement we have signed here today.”