An aerial view of Fongafale island in the Funafuti atoll. Seen from above, it’s easy to understand why Tuvalu has been identified among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. The south Pacific state is made up of a collection of small islands and coral atolls, totalling only 26 sq km, scattered across 500,000 sq km of ocean. The highest point in the country is just five metres above sea level, resulting in particular vulnerability to sea-level rise

Tuvalu’s government says the sea level near the country has risen about 5mm a year since 1993, pointing out that this is ‘larger than the global average’. Other challenges facing the country include drought, ocean acidification and management of its waste

The trunks of fallen trees in the shallows of Funafuti atoll. Erosion of land is an inevitable consequence of life in a coral atoll nation. As sea levels rise, and storm surges and extreme weather events get more frequent, the land will become increasingly fragile and prone to erosion

Fallen coconut trees in the shallows in Funafuti atoll. About 11,000 people live in Tuvalu, which is midway between Hawaii and Australia

A woman stands at the narrowest point of Fongafale island in the Funafuti atoll. On the left side is the Pacific ocean, on the right the lagoon at the centre of the atoll may be seen

Waves crash on to the shore in Funafuti. The government’s official policy has been to stay on the island, come what may. But many younger residents are already leaving for other countries

An earth mover lies abandoned before the waves of the Pacific ocean

Coral under the sea in the Funafuti atoll. The UN says: ‘Many coral species are highly vulnerable to heat stress. Scientists suggest that a 1 degree celsius increase in average water temperature will cause coral reefs to die – a process know as coral bleaching. Tuvalu is experiencing a small amount of coral bleaching and this is expected to rise. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that in the next 30 to 50 years coral bleaching events will occur every year. With coral dying, Tuvalu will lose its fish stocks, a principle source of protein for island communities like Tuvalu’

Just off shore from one of Tuvalu’s beaches, a piece of machinery has stood against the waves for more than 70 years. It was left by American forces stationed there during the second world war. The island nation was home to an estimated 6,000 American troops who launched aerial raids against Japanese forces further north. Now, the rusting remains of equipment can occasionally be found on the islands, still standing where they were left decades ago

A young boy swims in a flooded area near the airport runway in Funafuti. Parts of the island flood because of ‘king tides’, which accompany very high water levels in the ocean. At this time of year the waves inundate the coastline and water also seeps up through the ground, which is made of porous coral. This natural phenomenon is particularly serious for Tuvalu, whose highest point is only a few metres above sea level. As sea levels rise, the king tides regularly flood parts of the island – a problem that is likely to increase, potentially making large areas uninhabitable

A young boy puts his hands over his face near a dead fish on a beach in Funafuti. In 2018, it was reported that the EU had lifted a ‘yellow card’ it had given to Tuvalu over its fisheries management, following efforts to fight illegal fishing. The European commission said it recognised Tuvalu’s progress in addressing shortcomings in its fisheries governance

In Tuvalu’s idyllic surrounds, the threat of the rising sea level is not always obvious. But the government has warned that the nation risks sinking. In 2017, the prime minister, Enele Sopoaga, told the UN general assembly: ‘Unless the global community steps up our actions to significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions …Tuvalu will disappear completely within the next 30-50 years’

Vehicles pass through a rubbish dump at the northern end of Fongafale island. Waste management is often problematic for an island nation like Tuvalu, which lies in a remote corner of the Pacific ocean. At the moment, solid waste is collected in this single location, which is just metres away from the central lagoon and ocean