Tuvalu: Beneath the Rising Tide
Tuvalu: Beneath the Rising Tide
With an average elevation of only one meter above sea level, the United Nations has predicted that it may be the first nation to disappear, as a result of rising sea levels.
The fourth smallest country in the world and one of the least visited, the plight of Tuvalu’s 11,000 residents has been overlooked and underreported.
Each year, seasonal ‘king tides’ inundate the islands of Tuvalu, severely flooding large swathes of the country between the months of January and March.
Additionally, the erosion of land, saltwater encroachment during storm surges and difficulties with waste management, all exacerbate the problems Tuvalu faces.
Sean Gallagher travelled to Tuvalu in March 2019 to document the environmental challenges the country currently faces. This is the latest chapter in his long-term work chronicling the effects of climate change in the Asia-Pacific region.
