Sinking islanders are facing mass evacuation

Six athletes from Tuvalu proudly took their place at this week’s opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, but there are grave doubts that their descendants will be able to enjoy the same privilege.

Tuvalu, which is made up of eight coral atolls surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, and at least two other former British colonies are in danger of being overwhelmed by the sea.

“We face the real prospect of losing three nations: Tuvalu, neighbouring Kiribati and the Maldives in the Indian Ocean,” said Dr Clive Hamilton, the executive director of the Australia Institute think-tank.

..Although scientists say that globally sea levels are rising by only 5mm a year, the United Nations intergovernmental panel on climate change has predicted a rise of up to 88cm (nearly 3ft) by the end of the century.

Telegraph