Why Climate Visa Lottery Schemes Are Not the Answer

When governments are unprepared, randomness fills the void of policy.

An aerial view shows a narrow strip of land covered with lush green trees and low buildings, stretching off to the horizon. Boats float on one side of the land, while the other side has clear, darker water. Low, puffy clouds float overhead. August 22, 2025, 10:19 AM Comment icon View Comments ( )

In July 2025, an astonishing 8,750 people of Tuvalu’s approximately 9,470 residents registered for a visa to Australia through the Falepili Mobility Pathway, a “ climate visa ” born out of the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union. The treaty grants 280 Tuvaluans each year access to Australian residency, education, and health care, in exchange for closer security c

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