Tuvalu, a low-lying Pacific nation, is facing an impossible challenge. At the current rate of global sea level rise, the entire country will be submerged by 2050.
Philosophy
Tuvalu’s maritime boundaries, international voting rights, and voice on the world stage are all at risk. Tuvaluan Minister Simon Kofe was scheduled to speak at COP27, the UN Climate Change Conference. Though it was expected to be a typical diplomatic address to assembled delegates and reporters, Minister Kofe used the moment to unveil a radical plan for survival. Tuvalu will become the First Digital Nation, ensuring its sovereignty and ability to govern in the face of a worst-case scenario. During his address at COP27, Minister Kofe outlined the plan, which involves gradually migrating Tuvalu's government services, culture, and history to the cloud.
Result
With a $0 media budget, the project’s launch reached 2.1 billion people. It was covered by 359 global publications, including The New York Times and The Guardian, and trended on TikTok and Twitter. The website received global traffic from 160 countries, 118 in less than 48 hours. This reach turned to action when, days after the announcement, a historic Loss and Damage Fund for nations like Tuvalu was established at COP27. Most importantly, nine nations have agreed to officially recognise Tuvalu’s digital statehood – creating a pathway to sovereignty, that would secure Tuvalu’s maritime boundaries, international voting rights, and place on the world stage.