Tuvalu, a small island nation in the South Pacific, holds a vibrant heritage of intangible traditions—from the rhythmic Fatele dance to ancestral canoe carving and maritime wisdom. Yet, rising sea levels and intensifying climate threats put this living culture at the brink of disappearance. This digital exhibit preserves and celebrates Tuvaluan resilience, inviting global audiences to reflect on cultural survival in the face of climate emergency.
What will we lose
Audio Section: Traditional Chant – Au Ka MalagaCaption: This traditional Tuvaluan song, Au Ka Malaga, captures the emotional depth of island life and reflects on the spiritual and physical journeys of its people. Songs like these are essential to cultural memory and heritage continuity.Fatele, Tuvalu’s traditional group dance, is a vibrant expression of community spirit, history, and social values. Performed during ceremonies and festivals, it unites generations through rhythm, chant, and synchronized movement.Canoe carving represents Tuvalu’s deep ecological knowledge and ancestral skills in ocean navigation. These wooden vessels are crucial for fishing, travel, and cultural continuity across island communities.Oral storytelling and communal rituals are vital for transmitting cultural knowledge in Tuvalu. These moments reflect identity, resilience, and the passing of wisdom from elders to younger generations.
This section showcases the living traditions of Tuvalu—its vibrant dance, ancestral craftsmanship, and communal rituals—each representing a vital part of the island’s cultural identity. As climate change threatens Tuvalu’s very existence, these traditions are also at risk of being lost. Through images, audio, and stories, we honour what must be preserved.
Rising Seas, Disappearing Heritage
This chart, produced by NASA’s Sea Level Change Team, illustrates the steady increase in sea level at Funafuti, Tuvalu over the past three decades. Combining tide gauge and satellite altimetry data, the graph shows a 14 cm rise from 1993 to the present. While the trend is upward, short-term fluctuations also highlight the volatility and urgency of climate impacts. Continued rise in sea level threatens Tuvalu’s habitability and cultural continuity.
Climate Response Strategies
Mitigation
Although Tuvalu contributes minimally to global emissions, it has actively pursued low-carbon solutions such as solar energy pilot projects and sustainable fishing. These local initiatives reduce environmental impact and support energy self-sufficiency. Globally, Tuvalu uses its cultural narrative to advocate for climate justice in platforms like COP26.
In 2023, Tuvalu completed its first floating solar photovoltaic (FSPV) system, installing 184 solar panels on Tafua Pond in Funafuti. This initiative reduces the country’s reliance on diesel-powered energy by approximately 47,100 litres annually, contributing to Tuvalu’s goal of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2030.
Adaptation As sea levels rise, Tuvalu focuses on community resilience. Strategies include cultural documentation, youth-led storytelling, and relocation planning. By archiving traditional practices and creating virtual reconstructions, Tuvalu aims to preserve its heritage even beyond its physical borders.
Digital Preservation as Climate Adaptation
As climate change threatens the physical foundations of Tuvalu, digital technologies offer new ways to safeguard its intangible heritage. Through methods such as 3D modelling, virtual reality, and participatory storytelling, cultural traditions can endure beyond rising seas.
What We Preserve
Fatele dance captured in 3D motion → Digitising movements, chants, and attire through motion capture technology.
Carving techniques as digital blueprints → Traditional canoe-building preserved with photogrammetry and 3D models.
Oral histories archived as multimedia stories → Community voices recorded and shared across generations via digital platforms.
How We Adapt
Immersive cultural exhibitions → VR/AR experiences allow diasporic Tuvaluans to reconnect with traditions.
Online language archives → Tuvaluan phrases and idioms preserved through interactive language apps.
Virtual museums and story maps → Users can explore reconstructed cultural sites, dance ceremonies, and ocean voyages.
Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Empowering communities to build resilience and awareness in the face of climate change.Safeguarding the world’s cultural and natural heritage through digital innovation.Promoting global citizenship through cultural understanding and environmental literacy.Ensuring inclusive participation in heritage preservation and recognition.Fostering awareness for responsible and sustainable cultural practices.Honoring Tuvalu’s deep-rooted cultural ties to the ocean through storytelling.
What Heritage Would You Preserve?
🌏 If your homeland were sinking, what part of your culture would you preserve?
🌎 In the face of climate change, cultures around the world are at risk. Take a moment to reflect on what defines your own heritage. What stories, traditions, or expressions would you want to keep alive for future generations?
Our culture is not optional. Our planet is not replaceable. The climate crisis threatens more than coastlines—it threatens our stories, our songs, our identity. But we can act.
🤜 Stand with communities like Tuvalu. Raise your voice. Protect the past to empower our future.
🙌 Learn more. Share widely. Be part of the global movement to preserve heritage and fight for climate justice.
Climate Heritage Network
A global organization focusing on cultural heritage and climate action
