A tiny Pacific island nation threatened by rising sea levels plans to create a digital copy of itself in the metaverse

A tiny Pacific island nation threatened by rising sea levels plans to create a digital copy of itself in the metaverse

Tuvalu plans to become the first country to create a complete replica of itself in the metaverse as rising sea levels threaten to completely submerge the tiny island nation. Simon Kofe, Tuvalu's foreign affairs minister, announced the project in a virtual to world leaders at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt. "The tragedy of this outcome cannot be overstated. But because the world has not acted, we must," he said. "Our land, our ocean, our culture are the most precious assets of our people and to keep them safe from harm, no matter what happens in the physical world, we will move them to the cloud." Kofe also issued a warning to other nations: "Tuvalu could be the first country in the world to exist solely in cyberspace. But if global warming continues unchecked, it won't be the last." Situated about halfway between Hawaii and Australia, Tuvalu is composed of three reef islands and six coral atolls. It's home to around 12,000 people, and has a total land area of just 10 square miles. For Tuvalu, climate change poses an existential threat. The UN has classified the low-lying island nation as "extremely vulnerable" to rising global temperatures, and experts predict