The island nation of Tuvalu in the Pacific Ocean wants the bigger countries of the world to do something about climate change.
The
island
nation
of
Tuvalu
in
the
Pacific
Ocean
wants
the
bigger
countries
of
the
world
to
do
something
about
climate
change
.
And it's not just for the good of the planet: Tuvalu could be covered by the sea in less than 50 years if the planet gets much hotter.
And
it
's
not
just
for
the
good
of
the
planet
:
Tuvalu
could
be
covered
by
the
sea
in
less
than
50
years
if
the
planet
gets
much
hotter
.
Tuvalu has no industry, burns little petrol, and creates less carbon pollution than a small town in America.
Tuvalu
has
no
industry
,
burns
little
petrol
,
and
creates
less
carbon
pollution
than
a
small
town
in
America
.
However, this tiny place is on the front line of climate change.
However
,
this
tiny
place
is
on
the
front
line
of
climate
change
.
The increase in ocean temperatures and the rising sea level -all resulted from a warming atmosphere-are making trouble for Tuvalu.
The
increase
in
ocean
temperatures
and
the
rising
sea
level
-all
resulted
from
a
warming
atmosphere-are
making
trouble
for
Tuvalu
.
Sea level rise is the greatest problem.
Sea
level
rise
is
the
greatest
problem
.
With an average elevation of 6 feet above sea level, Tuvalu doesn't have far to go.
With
an
average
elevation
of
6
feet
above
sea
level
,
Tuvalu
does
n't
have
far
to
go
.
Tuvalu's highest elevation is 4.6 meters-15 feet-but most of it is no more than a meter above the sea.
Tuvalu
's
highest
elevation
is
4.6
meters-15
feet-but
most
of
it
is
no
more
than
a
meter
above
the
sea
.
Several times each year the regular lunar cycle of tides, riding on the ever higher sea level, brings the Pacific waters over onto roads and into neighborhoods.
Several
times
each
year
the
regular
lunar
cycle
of
tides
,
riding
on
the
ever
higher
sea
level
,
brings
the
Pacific
waters
over
onto
roads
and
into
neighborhoods
.
Sometimes a high tide can flood roads and run across the whole land.
Sometimes
a
high
tide
can
flood
roads
and
run
across
the
whole
land
.
You can never separate the sea from the land, so some natives warned visitors, "You'd better not run after dark, for you may fall into the sea."
You
can
never
separate
the
sea
from
the
land
,
so
some
natives
warned
visitors
,
``
You
'd
better
not
run
after
dark
,
for
you
may
fall
into
the
sea
.
''
The island nation of Tuvalu in the Pacific Ocean wants the bigger countries of the world to do something about climate change. And it's not just for the good of the planet: Tuvalu could be covered by the sea in less than 50 years if the planet gets much hotter.  Tuvalu has no industry, burns little petrol, and creates less carbon pollution than a small town in America. However, this tiny place is on the front line of climate change. The increase in ocean temperatures and the rising sea level -all resulted from a warming atmosphere-are making trouble for Tuvalu.  Sea level rise is the greatest problem. With an average elevation of 6 feet above sea level, Tuvalu doesn't have far to go. Tuvalu's highest elevation is 4.6 meters-15 feet-but most of it is no more than a meter above the sea. Several times each year the regular lunar cycle of tides, riding on the ever higher sea level, brings the Pacific waters over onto roads and into neighborhoods. Sometimes a high tide can flood roads and run across the whole land. You can never separate the sea from the land, so some natives warned visitors, "You'd better not run after dark, for you may fall into the sea."