Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a new pact with the low-lying island country of Tuvalu, allowing residents facing displacement from climate change the ability resettle in Australia.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a new pact with the low-lying island country of Tuvalu, allowing residents facing displacement from climate change the ability resettle in Australia.
Key points:
The deal is the first time Australia has offered residence or citizenship rights due to the threat posed by climate change
The US and New Zealand have similar agreements with other Pacific countries
Mr Albanese described it as the most significant agreement between Australia and a Pacific island nation ever
I think it's also worth noting that in return they're handing over their foreign policy / security decision autonomy, so colonialism once again manages to mar an otherwise humane decision. The IMF is getting their own policy pound of flesh too, they love a good bit of disaster capitalism.
To be it looks like Australia's getting the better end of the deal with Tuvalu essentially agreeing to be a military foothold of Australia in the Pacific.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a new pact with the low-lying island country of Tuvalu, allowing residents facing displacement from climate change the ability to resettle in Australia.
The agreement comes as Tuvalu's viability is threatened by rising sea levels as climate change escalates, with the country flagging a potential move into the digital world.
"It's not just a milestone but a giant leap forward in our joint mission to ensure regional stability, sustainability and prosperity," he said.
Anna Powles, a Pacific expert and senior lecturer in defence and security at Massey University, told the ABC the agreement happened "at speed and under immense secrecy".
She said the treaty would provide a model that some smaller Pacific countries also threatened by climate change, such as Nauru and Kiribati, may be encouraged to consider.
Australia's role in the region, and the fact it continues to expand its coal and gas industries as the world approaches a climate tipping point, was seen as motivation by some Pacific watchers for Mr Albanese to come armed with climate-focused announcements, such as the Tuvalu agreement.
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