When the Ocean Takes Away More Than Land: What Happens When a Country Begins to Disappear?

“Our islands are sacred to us; they contain the spirits of our ancestors. But today, the advancing ocean is not a future threat—it is a harsh, daily reality right outside our doors.

When I look at our coast, I see the water slowly swallowing the land that defines who we are. It is heartbreaking to watch world leaders continue expanding fossil fuel projects while my home is predicted to become uninhabitable within just a few decades.

We are fighting to save our country because we do not want Tuvalu to become only a digital memory. If we lose our land, we lose our identity, our history, and our connection to future generations. I refuse to stand by and watch my country disappear.”

These are the words of Kato Ewekia, a 27-year-old climate activist from Tuvalu. His story reminds us that climate change is no longer only an environmental issue—it is also a human one.

Around the world, rising sea levels are threatening homes, cultures, livelihoods, and even the existence of entire nations. Climate change affects not only the land itself but also communities, economies, traditions, and people’s sense of identity.

As environmental conditions worsen, millions of people may be forced to leave the places they have called home for generations, creating one of the greatest humanitarian challenges of the 21st century.

For over 100 years, humans have burned coal, gas, and oil to produce energy. Burning these fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases into the air. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, like a blanket wrapped around the globe. Adding more greenhouse gases thickens the blanket, and the Earth becomes warmer. Around 90% of this added heat is being absorbed by the ocean, warming it up. When water warms, it expands and takes up more space.

This causes the water to rise along the coastline. Currently, about one third (around 33%) of global sea-level rise is because of ocean warming.

The other two thirds (around 66%) of global sea-level rise is because of melting land ice. As the Earth heats up, it melts land ice, including the Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets and other mountain glaciers. The melted water then flows into the oceans, causing sea levels to rise.

The Science Behind a Rising Ocean

Low-lying island nations like Tuvalu, Kiribati, and the Maldives are among the countries most vulnerable to rising sea levels and could face serious threats to their habitability in the coming decades.

While these sovereign states may not vanish completely from physical existence overnight, their lack of habitable land poses an unprecedented crisis for their continued statehood and populations.

Countries on the Frontline of Climate Change

Climate change affects people’s lives in many ways. It can force communities to leave their homes, create conflicts over important resources like food and water, and damage cultural traditions that have existed for generations. Rising seas and melting ice can destroy places that are sacred to communities and make it harder for people to continue traditional activities such as fishing and hunting.

Climate change also affects local economies. When agriculture, fishing, and tourism are damaged, many people lose their jobs, the cost of living increases, and communities struggle to meet their everyday needs.

Losing their homeland can also mean losing part of their identity. Many people feel deep sadness when the places connected to their memories, ancestors, and traditions disappear. Those who are forced to move often face additional challenges, including legal problems, language barriers, discrimination, and difficulties adapting to a new society. They must rebuild their lives while leaving behind the communities and environments that shaped who they are.

When Losing Land Means Losing a Part of Yourself

“But today, the advancing ocean is not a future threat—it is a harsh, daily reality right outside our doors.” Now we can truly understand what Kato meant from the very beginning. Sadly, it is not only the people of Tuvalu who are facing this reality. Millions of people around the world are already experiencing the effects of climate change, and many more will face them in the future if we fail to act.

However, the future is still in our hands. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting our environment, and making more sustainable choices, we can help slow climate change and protect vulnerable communities. The Earth is our only home, and protecting it means protecting not only nature, but also the people, cultures, and histories connected to it.

Protecting Our Future

Author: Aurika Marculeviciute
Editor & Publisher: Lucía Lobato

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