Several media outlets on Sunday highlighted a significant demographic shift affecting the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, as over a third of its citizens have applied for climate visas to relocate to Australia. This exodus is driven by the relentless rise in sea levels, which are gradually submerging the country.

More than 3,000 of Tuvalu's approximately 10,000 inhabitants have signed up for the first phase of an Australian visa program, established under the 2023 Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union Treaty. This agreement was specifically designed to address the unique challenges posed by climate change to Tuvalu, ensuring safe, legal pathways for its citizens to work and reside in Australia, complete with access to essential services such as healthcare and education.

The treaty not only facilitates migration but also underscores a commitment by both nations to enable Tuvaluans to remain in their homeland as long as feasible, acknowledging Tuvalu's sovereignty even as it faces existential threats from climate change.

This situation is not unique to Tuvalu, as several other Pacific island nations are experiencing similar perilous increases in sea levels. Reports from the World Meteorological Organization indicate that the frequency and intensity of rising sea levels have doubled since the 1980s, leading to more frequent and severe coastal flooding and displacement of communities.

The term "climate refugee," however, remains unrecognized in international law, complicating the situation for those displaced by environmental factors. The 1951 Refugee Convention does not cover individuals displaced by environmental disasters, focusing instead on those fleeing persecution based on race, religion, nationality, or membership in a particular social or political group.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has noted that climate change is intensifying the global displacement crisis, heightening the challenges faced by refugees, the internally displaced, and stateless individuals. Environmental degradation is increasing the likelihood of repeated displacements, especially in nations that struggle to integrate new arrivals.

As the plight of Tuvalu illustrates, the impacts of climate change are immediate and devastating, forcing a reevaluation of international definitions and responses to the growing number of people displaced by environmental changes.