Australia agrees ‘groundbreaking’ climate pact to offer displaced Tuvalu residents refuge | Climate News<\/p>\n
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Australia has committed to offering refuge to residents of Tuvalu who are displaced by climate disaster – in what has been hailed as a landmark agreement.<\/p>\n
Tuvalu – a tiny group of low-lying islands in the remote Pacific Ocean, located midway between Australia<\/strong> and Hawaii – is one of the most at-risk nations in the world from climate change.<\/p>\nThe Australian government announced on Friday that it would provide assistance in response to a major natural disaster, health pandemic or military aggression.<\/p>\n
Residents of the islands will be allowed to live, work and study in Australia.<\/p>\n
Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese<\/strong>, signed a bilateral agreement with Tuvalu covering climate change<\/strong>, security and mobility, which he said makes Australia Tuvalu’s “partner of choice”.<\/p>\nThe union will be regarded as a “significant day in which Australia acknowledged that we are part of the Pacific family,” Mr Albanese told a news conference in the Cook Islands, where he has been attending a meeting of Pacific leaders.<\/p>\n
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He shared a picture of himself and Tuvalu prime minister, Kausea Natano, holding the signed agreements, on X, formerly known as Twitter, adding the caption: “Australia and Tuvalu are family. And today we are elevating our relationship to a more integrated and comprehensive partnership.”<\/p>\n
The treaty – which will safeguard Tuvalu’s future while respecting its sovereignty – will be known as the ‘Falepili Union’, Mr Albanese said.<\/p>\n
He explained Falepili is a Tuvaluan word for the “traditional values of good neighbourliness, care and mutual respect”, adding: “Put simply, it means being a good neighbour”.<\/p>\n
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Another post, showing a picture of the two men shaking hands, added: “This new partnership recognises climate change as the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of Tuvalu.<\/p>\n
“We will be working together on climate adaptation, work arrangements and security.”<\/p>\n
Initially, Australia will create a special visa for up to 280 Tuvaluans each year – equating to 2.5% of its population of just over 11,000.<\/p>\n
Funds will also be earmarked for land reclamation in Tuvalu, in order to expand land in the capital, Funafuti, by around 6%.<\/p>\n
The full text of the agreement has not yet been released – but the Sydney Morning Herald reported that all 11,200 residents would be offered refuge if climate change made the islands uninhabitable.<\/p>\n
Tuvalu’s former foreign minister, Simon Kofe, told the COP27 climate summit last year that it plans to build a digital version of itself – replicating islands and landmarks to preserve its history and culture – as fears grow about the impact of climate disaster.<\/p>\n
By 2050, it is estimated that half the land area of the capital, Funafuti, will be flooded by tidal waters daily.<\/p>\n
Agreement to limit China’s influence in Pacific <\/strong><\/p>\nThe pact will require the parties to consult each other before signing security or defence agreements with third parties.<\/p>\n
Under the deal, Australia will be given an effective veto over the establishment of any security pact or defence partnership between Tuvalu and China<\/strong>, in a major win for the government’s efforts to limit Beijing’s military influence in the Pacific.<\/p>\nTuvalu is one of just 13 nations to maintain an official diplomatic relationship with Taiwan<\/strong>.<\/p>\nRead more from Sky News: <\/strong>
Major fossil fuel producing companies risk blowing climate targets
Driving restrictions come into force in one of the world’s most polluted cities<\/strong><\/p>\nThere are already several independent Pacific states that have associations or “compacts” with larger outside countries.<\/p>\n
Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Marshall Islands all have a Compact of Free Association with the United States, giving Washington authority over their defence issues in return for US government services and the right to live in the US.<\/p>\n
Similarly, New Zealand has arrangements with Niue and Cook Islands, which gives Wellington responsibility for their defence.<\/p>\n
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