At risk of disappearing beneath the ocean, Australia and Pacific Island state Tuvalu is on the way to become the world’s first digital country.

Faced with the worse effects of climate change, the nation is sinking under the rising sea levels. By 2050, it is estimated that half the land area of the capital, Funafuti, will be flooded by tidal waters daily.

To preserve its identity and history, Tuvalu in 2021 said it was exploring ways to maintain its economic maritime zone and recognition as a state if rising seas claimed the country.

A year later it floated the idea of preserving a digital version of itself in the metaverse.

Halfway between Australia and Hawaii, Tuvalu is spread across nine atolls and just 26 square kilometres (10 square miles) of land.

Roughly half its 11,200 people live on the capital atoll Funafuti. Stretched around a lagoon, the largest islet is only 650 metres (710 yards) at its widest. During exceptionally high tides, roughly 40% of the main island is inundated with sea water.

The nation plans to partner with The Monkeys and Collider agency to come up with a digital version of their country, including a catalog and a map along with records of historical documents, photography albums, and traditional songs.

The metaverse version of Tuvalu is aimed at covering the nation’s history, geography, people, and native culture.

With input from wires…