Latest news with #FeletiTeo
The Guardian
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
A climate crisis, a ballot, and a chance at a new life in Australia
On the sandy shores of Vaiaku, as coconut trees sway gently in the breeze, Tekafa Piliota sits in his small classroom and dreams of becoming a doctor. The 13-year-old, who lives in Tuvalu's capital Funafuti, knows that would mean leaving his homeland. There aren't any universities in the small Pacific island nation, which lies between Australia and Hawaii. The country has another problem: it is predicted to be one the first countries to become uninhabitable due to rising seas. 'I would like to go to Australia to study. There is higher ground in Australia, and it might be safer during natural disasters,' Piliota says. In the years to come, he could see that dream become a reality. This week the first ballot opened that allows Tuvalu citizens to apply to move to Australia. It is part of a world-first agreement the two countries signed in 2023 that creates a visa in the context of the climate crisis. The agreement, known as the Falepili Union treaty, will allow up to 280 Tuvaluans each year to migrate to Australia and obtain permanent residency, and move freely between the countries. The treaty also contains other provisions to deepen ties, including security guarantees and disaster assistance. Tuvalu's prime minister, Feleti Teo, described the agreement as 'groundbreaking, unprecedented and landmark'. 'There's a lot of excitement around the migration pathway, both in Tuvalu and among our diaspora,' Teo tells the Guardian. 'It doesn't mean you have to live the rest of your life in Australia. You can go in and come out as you wish.' Yet as the historic treaty stirs hope among some Tuvaluans, it has also raised fears that the flow of people out of the country of around 11,000 people will create labour gaps and lead to a loss of cultural knowledge. Others have criticised the treaty's sovereignty implications and questioned how it was negotiated. 'It was done in a secretive manner, kept away from the people, kept away from parliamentary process,' says Enele Sopoaga, a former prime minister of Tuvalu and renowned climate diplomat. 'You cannot take people away and pretend nothing is happening on the ground. That's a daft way of thinking. [It's] modern-day colonialism at its worst,' Sopoaga said. Tuvalu is one if the smallest countries in the world, with a total land mass of about 26 sq km. Funafuti is the capital of Tuvalu and a low-lying atoll of more than 30 islets, home to about 60% of the country's population. Encircling the vast 275 sq km Te Namo lagoon, much of Funafuti's land is less than one metre above spring high tide levels. This makes the atoll acutely vulnerable to climate threats such as sea level rise, saltwater intrusion and coastal erosion, which already affect freshwater supplies and increase flooding during high tides. Scientific projections suggest that by 2050, half of Funafuti could be submerged during high tides, with up to 95% of the land regularly flooded by the end of the century. To confront these escalating risks, Tuvalu's government is working with international agencies on a series of adaptation projects. The Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project has built 7.8 hectares of raised, flood-resilient land and reinforced 2.78km of shoreline using seawalls, groynes and natural buffers. Work is expected to be completed later this year. Another project aims to reclaim 3.6 sq km of elevated, climate-resilient land for the relocation of residents and key infrastructure beyond 2100. Yet in this environment, many living in Funafuti think about their options for the future – and whether to stay or go. Among them are Piliota and his classmate Hope Aoga Kofe, who attend Natui primary school in the village of Vaiaku in Funafuti. Hope Kofe also has dreams of one day studying in Australia. 'I want to become a flight attendant because I love travelling and I enjoy helping and serving people,' she says. 'I think the idea of moving to Australia is good, especially for getting a better education. It would be easier to find jobs there. Life here in Tuvalu is harder, but if I got a good job in Australia, I could always come back and visit.' About 800 children study at Natui primary school. Principal Kainaki Taula works hard to make sure her students are ready for the future, but acknowledges there aren't enough job opportunities. 'We try our best to equip them with the knowledge and skills to survive and thrive wherever they go,' Taula says. Letiu Afelee, a father of five young boys, sees the Falepili pathway as a necessary option for families like his, seeking opportunity beyond Tuvalu. His eldest son is a student at a nearby high school, who hopes to work in land planning and dreams of playing Australian rules football. 'If the predictions are true, and in 50 years Tuvalu is underwater, then we need to have a way out,' Afelee says. 'If we are granted permanent residence, they can go to Australia, live there, and still come back to Tuvalu when they want.' Adriana Pedro Tausau, who is in her final year of high school in Funafuti, is excited about what a move to Australia could bring now – and years down the track. 'This is a great opportunity. The Falepili pathway would help my family access health, education, and jobs, not just for me but for my future children too,' she said. The inaugural ballot for the Falepili pathway opened on 16 June 2025 and is due to close next month. Successful applicants will be chosen at random. Australia's foreign minister, Penny Wong, said it would enable 'mobility with dignity, by providing Tuvaluans the opportunity to live, study and work in Australia as climate impacts worsen'. The scheme differs from other migration programs in the Pacific. Unlike temporary labour pathways, successful applicants will be granted permanent residency before departure, meaning they gain access to health, education and other services as soon as they arrive in Australia. They will also be free to travel to and from Australia, to maintain connections with Tuvalu. It is wider than other migration programs, with no restrictions on age or disability. Still, some in Tuvalu have concerns about the way the treaty was formed, and Sopoaga criticised its implementation. 'It was done almost under the influence of one partner over the recipient,' the former prime minister said. 'If you look at the treaty text, there's nothing in there to protect Tuvalu. Nothing to deal with the impacts of climate change. Nothing,' Sopoaga says. Anna Powles, associate professor in security studies at Massey University, also notes the treaty was negotiated quickly and 'in secrecy'. She says that provisions in Article 4 'effectively give Australia veto power over Tuvalu's national security decision-making'. 'Bundling climate assistance with military or defence-related commitments poses significant security risks for Pacific nations, as illustrated by the Falepili treaty between Australia and Tuvalu. Such agreements risk eroding sovereignty,' she says. Others are worried about the drain of people and resources out of Tuvalu. Pacific labour migration researcher FotuoSamoa Tiatia says the treaty could lead to a substantial flow over time. 'These individuals often hold important roles in their churches, villages and families. Their absence creates gaps not just in labour, but in the transmission of cultural knowledge,' Tiatia says. Prime minister Teo challenges these concerns, arguing the pathway is intentionally two-way and 'doesn't mean you have to live the rest of your life' in Australia. He describes the treaty as a 'serious elevation in terms of our relationship with Australia'. 'Australia is now the first country to legally recognise the continuity of our statehood despite climate change and sea level rise,' Teo says, while stressing it 'does not go as far as sovereignty within Australia in the event of full land loss'. 'It simply recognises future statehood in relation to where we are right now. With this elevated relationship and the opportunities that the treaty provides, I hope the people of Tuvalu can take full advantage, especially of the migration pathway.' Students like Tekafa welcome the chance to consider a different future. 'I love the freedom here. I can go anywhere I want without fear,' he says. 'But I also think about the opportunities elsewhere. It might be hard to leave, but it could also be a good decision.'
Scoop
5 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Pacific Leaders Rally For Climate-Resilient Fisheries At Third UN Ocean Conference
NICE, FRANCE, 11 JUNE 2025 – Pacific leaders have issued a unified call for urgent global action to protect the world's largest tuna production region from the accelerating impacts of climate change. This message was reinforced at the 3rd UN Oceans Conference in Nice, France during a side event on Tuesday, co-hosted by the Government of Niue and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA). Tuvalu Prime Minister Hon. Feleti Teo led the high-level side event with the keynote opening remarks under the theme 'On the Road to Climate-Resilient Fisheries', describing climate change as an existential threat to Pacific Island Countries and Territories. 'Pacific Island countries, including Tuvalu, rely deeply on our tuna resources. For us, tuna is not just food or revenue - it is sovereignty, it is development, and it is dignity,' the Tuvalu Prime Minister said in his keynote address. 'As tuna moves further from our Exclusive Economic Zones to the high seas under the weight of climate change, so too do our hopes of a stable, secure future. This is not just an environmental issue. It is an issue of justice.' He went on to highlight the Pacific's global leadership in sustainable fisheries management, noting that while global discussions continue around achieving sustainability, the Pacific has quietly led by example for decades. Through regional institutions like the FFA and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), Pacific nations have collaborated to sustainably manage tuna stocks – which remain among the healthiest in the world today. H.E. Ambassador Peter Thomson, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean, commended Pacific nations for their stewardship and leadership in sustainable fisheries, and called for strengthened international commitment to climate-responsive governance. Niue's Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Mona Ainu'u, reiterated the key role of regional cooperation. 'Our greatest strength lies not in scale, but in solidarity,' Hon. Ainu'u highlighted acknowledging FFA's role in uniting small island nations under a shared vision for sustainable, science-based management of tuna resources. The event also featured key interventions from Papua New Guinea Minister for Fisheries Hon. Jelta Wong, Fiji Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Hon. Alitia Bainivalu, Kiribati Minister for Fisheries and Ocean Resources Hon. Ribanataake Awira, Palau Minister for Fisheries and Environment Hon. Stephen Victor, Marshall Islands Minister for Natural Resources Hon. Anthony Muller, Federated States of Micronesia Minister for Resources and Development Hon. Elina P. Akinaga, and Permanent Secretary for the Solomon Islands Foreign Affairs H.E. Colin Beck. Two voluntary commitments were pledged during the side event: Niue's pioneering Niue Ocean Wide (Niue NOW) initiative and ocean literacy efforts, and the launch of the Pacific Tuna Transparency Pledge that is jointly championed by Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Papua New Guinea. The event concluded with a call to action: to recognize and support the Pacific's decades-long leadership in ocean sustainability and to ensure justice for those bearing the heaviest costs of a crisis they did not create.
RNZ News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Cook Islands announces protection zone for migrating Oceania humpback whales
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown arrives at Tuurangawaewae Marae Photo: Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ Cook Islands prime minister Mark Brown has announced the creation of a zone to protect the migratory corridors of the endangered Oceania humpback whale. Brown made the announcement at the UN Oceans Conference in Nice, France . "We can apply our traditional Ra'ui practice at ocean scale," Brown told the conference. "Spanning over 400,000 square kilometres, this zone will adapt with the seasons and respond to emerging threats. Its purpose is not only conservation; it is recovery." The Cook Islands set up Marae Moana in 2017 . Brown said Ra'ui To'ora reflects a growing global truth that traditional knowledge and science can work together to shape powerful solutions. "With regional cooperation, this could become the foundation of the Pacific's first transboundary whale corridor. "To support this, we are further exploring the establishment of the Institute of Blue Ocean Sustainability and Science, a national initiative to advance ocean governance, foster applied research, and strengthen partnerships across government, academia, industry, and traditional leadership. "These are not radical ideas; they are overdue. This is sovereignty matched with stewardship." Also, at the Ocean Conference, Tuvalu prime minister Feleti Teo has called for an international treaty on sea level rise . Before the conference, French Polynesia's president, Moetai Brotherson, announced his administration's plan to establish a network of highly protected marine areas (MPAs). The conference wraps up on Friday, Nice time.
The Advertiser
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Australia opens resettlement to Tuvalu citizens
The first Tuvaluans to resettle in Australia under the groundbreaking Falepili Union treaty can apply from next week. Citizens of the climate change-threatened Polynesian nation are being encouraged to apply to move to Australia by the High Commission in Funafuti. The migration pathway will allow 280 applicants - who will be selected at random, rather than on the basis of skills or other criteria - through an online ballot, to move to Australia. Tuvalu is a clutch of reef islands and atolls roughly halfway between Brisbane and Hawaii and home to just over 10,000 people. It is the world's most at-risk nation to sea level rise, with a highest point of under five metres. Fears of being subsided by sea prompted the discussion of the immigration pathway between Australia and Tuvalu. "The opening of the Falepili Mobility Pathway marks a significant moment for our elevated partnership and demonstrates Australia's ongoing commitment to the government and people of Tuvalu," Australian High Commissioner to Tuvalu David Charlton said. Given the small population, it is possible that all citizens could use the pathway to relocate in Australia by mid-century, however Prime Minister Feleti Teo said he believed most would stay, and others would return. "The Falepili Mobility Pathway is not just a one-way traffic," he said. "Tuvalu stands to benefit greatly from those that return to Tuvalu after exposure to work, study and life in Australia." Applications open on Monday June 16, and will remain open until Monday July 18. Ballot winners will be afforded rights to work or study as permanent residents, with access to benefits like Medicare. It is expected to be popular among locals, given opportunities for higher-paid work in Australia. Announced in late 2023, the Falepili Union is a multi-faceted pact with the climate change-threatened Polynesian nation which positions Australia as Tuvalu's primary security partner. In exchange, Australia has promised Tuvalu assistance in response to disasters, development assistance, and the migration pathway. The treaty - named after a Tuvaluan word meaning good neighbour - has been criticised as neo-colonialist, given Australia's influence over Tuvalu's sovereignty and absorption of citizens. The first Tuvaluans to resettle in Australia under the groundbreaking Falepili Union treaty can apply from next week. Citizens of the climate change-threatened Polynesian nation are being encouraged to apply to move to Australia by the High Commission in Funafuti. The migration pathway will allow 280 applicants - who will be selected at random, rather than on the basis of skills or other criteria - through an online ballot, to move to Australia. Tuvalu is a clutch of reef islands and atolls roughly halfway between Brisbane and Hawaii and home to just over 10,000 people. It is the world's most at-risk nation to sea level rise, with a highest point of under five metres. Fears of being subsided by sea prompted the discussion of the immigration pathway between Australia and Tuvalu. "The opening of the Falepili Mobility Pathway marks a significant moment for our elevated partnership and demonstrates Australia's ongoing commitment to the government and people of Tuvalu," Australian High Commissioner to Tuvalu David Charlton said. Given the small population, it is possible that all citizens could use the pathway to relocate in Australia by mid-century, however Prime Minister Feleti Teo said he believed most would stay, and others would return. "The Falepili Mobility Pathway is not just a one-way traffic," he said. "Tuvalu stands to benefit greatly from those that return to Tuvalu after exposure to work, study and life in Australia." Applications open on Monday June 16, and will remain open until Monday July 18. Ballot winners will be afforded rights to work or study as permanent residents, with access to benefits like Medicare. It is expected to be popular among locals, given opportunities for higher-paid work in Australia. Announced in late 2023, the Falepili Union is a multi-faceted pact with the climate change-threatened Polynesian nation which positions Australia as Tuvalu's primary security partner. In exchange, Australia has promised Tuvalu assistance in response to disasters, development assistance, and the migration pathway. The treaty - named after a Tuvaluan word meaning good neighbour - has been criticised as neo-colonialist, given Australia's influence over Tuvalu's sovereignty and absorption of citizens. The first Tuvaluans to resettle in Australia under the groundbreaking Falepili Union treaty can apply from next week. Citizens of the climate change-threatened Polynesian nation are being encouraged to apply to move to Australia by the High Commission in Funafuti. The migration pathway will allow 280 applicants - who will be selected at random, rather than on the basis of skills or other criteria - through an online ballot, to move to Australia. Tuvalu is a clutch of reef islands and atolls roughly halfway between Brisbane and Hawaii and home to just over 10,000 people. It is the world's most at-risk nation to sea level rise, with a highest point of under five metres. Fears of being subsided by sea prompted the discussion of the immigration pathway between Australia and Tuvalu. "The opening of the Falepili Mobility Pathway marks a significant moment for our elevated partnership and demonstrates Australia's ongoing commitment to the government and people of Tuvalu," Australian High Commissioner to Tuvalu David Charlton said. Given the small population, it is possible that all citizens could use the pathway to relocate in Australia by mid-century, however Prime Minister Feleti Teo said he believed most would stay, and others would return. "The Falepili Mobility Pathway is not just a one-way traffic," he said. "Tuvalu stands to benefit greatly from those that return to Tuvalu after exposure to work, study and life in Australia." Applications open on Monday June 16, and will remain open until Monday July 18. Ballot winners will be afforded rights to work or study as permanent residents, with access to benefits like Medicare. It is expected to be popular among locals, given opportunities for higher-paid work in Australia. Announced in late 2023, the Falepili Union is a multi-faceted pact with the climate change-threatened Polynesian nation which positions Australia as Tuvalu's primary security partner. In exchange, Australia has promised Tuvalu assistance in response to disasters, development assistance, and the migration pathway. The treaty - named after a Tuvaluan word meaning good neighbour - has been criticised as neo-colonialist, given Australia's influence over Tuvalu's sovereignty and absorption of citizens. The first Tuvaluans to resettle in Australia under the groundbreaking Falepili Union treaty can apply from next week. Citizens of the climate change-threatened Polynesian nation are being encouraged to apply to move to Australia by the High Commission in Funafuti. The migration pathway will allow 280 applicants - who will be selected at random, rather than on the basis of skills or other criteria - through an online ballot, to move to Australia. Tuvalu is a clutch of reef islands and atolls roughly halfway between Brisbane and Hawaii and home to just over 10,000 people. It is the world's most at-risk nation to sea level rise, with a highest point of under five metres. Fears of being subsided by sea prompted the discussion of the immigration pathway between Australia and Tuvalu. "The opening of the Falepili Mobility Pathway marks a significant moment for our elevated partnership and demonstrates Australia's ongoing commitment to the government and people of Tuvalu," Australian High Commissioner to Tuvalu David Charlton said. Given the small population, it is possible that all citizens could use the pathway to relocate in Australia by mid-century, however Prime Minister Feleti Teo said he believed most would stay, and others would return. "The Falepili Mobility Pathway is not just a one-way traffic," he said. "Tuvalu stands to benefit greatly from those that return to Tuvalu after exposure to work, study and life in Australia." Applications open on Monday June 16, and will remain open until Monday July 18. Ballot winners will be afforded rights to work or study as permanent residents, with access to benefits like Medicare. It is expected to be popular among locals, given opportunities for higher-paid work in Australia. Announced in late 2023, the Falepili Union is a multi-faceted pact with the climate change-threatened Polynesian nation which positions Australia as Tuvalu's primary security partner. In exchange, Australia has promised Tuvalu assistance in response to disasters, development assistance, and the migration pathway. The treaty - named after a Tuvaluan word meaning good neighbour - has been criticised as neo-colonialist, given Australia's influence over Tuvalu's sovereignty and absorption of citizens.
Perth Now
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Australia opens resettlement to Tuvalu citizens
The first Tuvaluans to resettle in Australia under the groundbreaking Falepili Union treaty can apply from next week. Citizens of the climate change-threatened Polynesian nation are being encouraged to apply to move to Australia by the High Commission in Funafuti. The migration pathway will allow 280 applicants - who will be selected at random, rather than on the basis of skills or other criteria - through an online ballot, to move to Australia. Tuvalu is a clutch of reef islands and atolls roughly halfway between Brisbane and Hawaii and home to just over 10,000 people. It is the world's most at-risk nation to sea level rise, with a highest point of under five metres. Fears of being subsided by sea prompted the discussion of the immigration pathway between Australia and Tuvalu. "The opening of the Falepili Mobility Pathway marks a significant moment for our elevated partnership and demonstrates Australia's ongoing commitment to the government and people of Tuvalu," Australian High Commissioner to Tuvalu David Charlton said. Given the small population, it is possible that all citizens could use the pathway to relocate in Australia by mid-century, however Prime Minister Feleti Teo said he believed most would stay, and others would return. "The Falepili Mobility Pathway is not just a one-way traffic," he said. "Tuvalu stands to benefit greatly from those that return to Tuvalu after exposure to work, study and life in Australia." Applications open on Monday June 16, and will remain open until Monday July 18. Ballot winners will be afforded rights to work or study as permanent residents, with access to benefits like Medicare. It is expected to be popular among locals, given opportunities for higher-paid work in Australia. Announced in late 2023, the Falepili Union is a multi-faceted pact with the climate change-threatened Polynesian nation which positions Australia as Tuvalu's primary security partner. In exchange, Australia has promised Tuvalu assistance in response to disasters, development assistance, and the migration pathway. The treaty - named after a Tuvaluan word meaning good neighbour - has been criticised as neo-colonialist, given Australia's influence over Tuvalu's sovereignty and absorption of citizens.
