Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Can Tuvalu be saved? Thanks to climate change, Tuvalu, one of the world’s smallest, most remote island nations, is in a race against time. As rising sea levels threaten to make the country uninhabitable, this video explores Tuvalu's unprecedented challenges—not only environmental, but also legal, political, and existential. What happens to a sovereign state when it loses its territory? Can Tuvalu survive as a "state without land"? Here, we examine the future of Tuvalu, climate migration, and the evolving rules of international law. As the clock ticks, bold—sometimes desperate—strategies are being considered, from artificial islands to migration deals with Australia.
But this isn't just about Tuvalu, it’s a warning for the world. As global sea levels continue to rise due to climate change, millions living in low-lying areas could be displaced. Tuvalu's fate may soon befall nations like the Maldives, the Marshall Islands, and even coastal regions in the U.S. and Bangladesh. Ultimately, taking into account the geopolitical implications of climate change, international relations, and the future of sovereignty, the video poses the critical question: So, can Tuvalu be saved? And, if not, what happens to it and its people?
*VIDEO CHAPTERS*
00:00 Introduction and Titles
02:16 Tuvalu: Location and Population
03:28 A Brief History of Tuvalu
05:18 Climate Change and Small Island States
06:53 Tuvalu’s Limited Options
08:40 International Law and Tuvalu’s Future Status
11:12 Can Tuvalu Be Saved?
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Secession and State Creation: What Everyone Needs to Know
Oxford University Press global.oup.com/academic/product/secession-and-state-creation-9780190494049
Amazon amzn.to/2MPY3W2
Some of the links above are affiliate links. These pay a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps to support the channel at no additional cost to you.
#Tuvalu #ClimateChange #ICJ
Can Tuvalu be saved? Thanks to climate change, Tuvalu, one of the world’s smallest, most remote island nations, is in a race against time. As rising sea levels threaten to make the country uninhabitable, this video explores Tuvalu's unprecedented challenges—not only environmental, but also legal, political, and existential. What happens to a sovereign state when it loses its territory? Can Tuvalu survive as a "state without land"? Here, we examine the future of Tuvalu, climate migration, and the evolving rules of international law. As the clock ticks, bold—sometimes desperate—strategies are being considered, from artificial islands to migration deals with Australia.
But this isn't just about Tuvalu, it’s a warning for the world. As global sea levels continue to rise due to climate change, millions living in low-lying areas could be displaced. Tuvalu's fate may soon befall nations like the Maldives, the Marshall Islands, and even coastal regions in the U.S. and Bangladesh. Ultimately, taking into account the geopolitical implications of climate change, international relations, and the future of sovereignty, the video poses the critical question: So, can Tuvalu be saved? And, if not, what happens to it and its people?
*VIDEO CHAPTERS*
00:00 Introduction and Titles
02:16 Tuvalu: Location and Population
03:28 A Brief History of Tuvalu
05:18 Climate Change and Small Island States
06:53 Tuvalu’s Limited Options
08:40 International Law and Tuvalu’s Future Status
11:12 Can Tuvalu Be Saved?
*SUPPORT INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS*
If you enjoy the channel and would like to support independent analysis of international relations, conflict, and security, there are several ways you can help:
SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE
youtube.com/channel/UCEszqJb1FjYisBevHBIof3g
youtube.com/c/JamesKerLindsay?sub_confirmation=1
JOIN THE COMMUNITY AND BECOME A CHANNEL MEMBER
YouTube: youtube.com/c/JamesKerLindsay/join
Patreon: patreon.com/JamesKerLindsay
*MY LATEST BOOK!*
Secession and State Creation: What Everyone Needs to Know
Oxford University Press global.oup.com/academic/product/secession-and-state-creation-9780190494049
Amazon amzn.to/2MPY3W2
Some of the links above are affiliate links. These pay a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps to support the channel at no additional cost to you.
#Tuvalu #ClimateChange #ICJ
