Tuvalu is on the front lines of the climate crisis, with regular flooding already destroying vital crops and infrastructure.
Pacific sea levels are rising faster than the global average, putting Tuvalu at even greater risk, according to a recent report from the World Meteorological Organization.
In response to this existential threat, last month Australia and Tuvalu signed the Falepili Union, offering up to 280 Tuvaluans — 2.5 per cent of the population — permanent residency in Australia each year.
While the treaty has been embraced by those seeking education and work opportunities, it raises an urgent question: What happens to those who stay as the land and population shrink?