LUME. Creatives in Web3 Age

Tuvalu is a small island nation that is, due to climate change, in real danger of disappearing from the world map. Rising sea levels threaten not only to submerge the islands themselves but also to erase the cultural and social life tied to them. The ecological catastrophe is not only a crisis of nature -- it is also a threat to the existence of people, communities, and traditions. That is why protecting the environment alone is not enough. Sustainable development must also include cultural and social sustainability: the preservation of identity, memory, and meaning in a changing world. In this, digital technology can play a vital role. I wrote about Tuvalu in the publication of the Creatives in the Metaverse project (Halonen 2023). Tuvalu is a nation vanishing from the Earth as it is submerged by rising seas. In the previous year, Tuvalu’s Foreign Minister Simon Kofe (2022) gave a stirring speech at COP26 about how the island nation aims to preserve at least part of its cultural heritage in the metaverse. That speech launched Tuvaluans, heritage documentarians, and metaverse developers on an innovative journey. This blog post takes a closer look at how the process has progressed. Digital Twins: Keeping Culture Alive By the end of 2023, Tuvalu had completed detailed 3D renderings of all 124 islands and islets, documenting topography, shorelines, and environmental data. Collaboration with organizations such as SPC Digital Earth Pacific and PLACE enables climate monitoring and planning of sustainability actions through this digital twin model. Cultural heritage often arises in connection with specific physical locations. For instance, stories and dances may be tied to a particular stone or tree that gives context to the content. While video recordings allow such elements to be preserved for viewing, in the metaverse, users can walk around the stone, wander through villages, and participate collectively in preserving and passing on cultural heritage to future generations. The metaverse thus allows for the re-experiencing and continuation of life connected to Tuvalu’s islands, shores, and communities. In addition to mapping physical spaces, a systematic digital collection of intangible cultural heritage has been built. The collection already includes a vast archive of images, audio recordings, and videos of Tuvalu’s vibrant cultural expressions—songs, dances, storytelling, and interviews. A web repository created in collaboration with the German Archaeological Institute’s Rising Nations Initiative (n.d.) makes these treasures globally accessible, allowing Tuvaluans and anyone interested to explore the nation’s rich culture. At present, the metaverse models themselves (Unreal Engine versions) are being published gradually, though they are currently available primarily to research partners. Digital Sovereignty: A Nation Without Physical Borders In his classic book Imagined Communities (1983), social theorist Benedict Anderson argues that a nation is primarily a cultural construct, maintained through shared stories, memories, and symbols—not necessarily through physical contact or geographic borders. At the time of the book’s publication, there was no UN climate panel or internet, let alone extended reality, which was mostly confined to science fiction. Yet Tuvalu’s digital transition illustrates the very essence of Anderson’s thesis: even if a country disappears from the map, its cultural and societal identity can persist without physical presence. Tuvalu is also a pioneer in developing digital governance models to support its digital nationhood. Blockchain-based digital identity documents, passports, and registries for births and marriages are being introduced. The country’s constitution has been updated to ensure state sovereignty regardless of physical territory, creating a legal precedent for other nations threatened by climate change (Tuvalu: the Digital Nation State Programme, 2024). Several countries have already recognized Tuvalu as a digital nation. In practice, the aim is to safeguard Tuvalu’s international status, citizens’ voting rights, and maritime boundaries, even if the country were to sink. (https://www.tuvalu.tv/; Gonzalez 2025.) Challenges Ahead This ambitious initiative also faces challenges. Ongoing debates question whether digital preservation can truly replace the deep connection to physical environments. Critics, including former leaders, highlight the difficulties of achieving international legal recognition for digital citizenship. Nevertheless, Tuvalu’s groundbreaking project has brought the country to the forefront of global discussions on climate change, sovereignty, and cultural survival. Tuvalu is not alone. Other nations such as Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, the Maldives, and Vanuatu face a similar fate: rising seas threaten to erase their physical territories. For instance, Kiribati has already purchased land in neighboring countries for potential population relocation, and the Maldives is constructing artificial islands to sustain its population. These countries stand on the frontline of climate change. They are not responsible for the crisis, but they are among its first and worst-affected victims. That is why Tuvalu’s digital twin is not just a technical innovation—it is a vital strategy for cultural survival, the preservation and continuation of cultural heritage, and the maintenance of an entire nation's identity. It offers continuity and acts as a powerful example for other communities confronting the same existential challenges. I sincerely hope it will also function as a space for maintaining community, passing down traditions to future generations, and creating new heritage together. In the face of catastrophe, it offers hope for continuity and serves as a model for other communities facing similar threats. References Anderson, B. (1983). Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origins and Spread of Nationalism. London. Gonzalez, F. (2025). The First Planned Migration of an Entire Country Is Underway. 25.7.2025 Wired Science. https://www.wired.com/story/the-first-planned-migration-of-an-entire-country-is-underway Halonen, K. (2023). A New Home in the Metaverse? New Art is Born in the Metaverse. In Halonen & Hero (Eds.), Creatives in the Web3 Era: Dreams, Challenges and Earning Opportunities (Taito series, pp. 89–96). Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. Kofe, S. (2022). Tuvalu Minister Gives COP26 Speech from the Sea. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EkSrtlapZQ Rising Nations Initiative. (n.d.). GCCM – Global Centre for Climate Mobility. https://climatemobility.org/initiatives/rising-nations/ Thomson Reuters Foundation. (2024, March 6). Tuvalu Preserves History Online as Rising Seas Threaten Existence. Eco-Business. https://www.eco-business.com/news/tuvalu-preserves-history-online-as-rising-seas-threaten-existence Tuvalu: The Digital Nation State Programme. (2024). Global Forum on Migration and Development. https://www.gfmd.org/pfp/ppd/19211 Tuvalu TV. (n.d.). https://www.tuvalu.tv/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0KoYarxX3E&t=208s Varada, P. (2023, April 7). Tuvalu’s Fight to Exist: Interview with Minister Simon Kofe. Harvard International Review. https://hir.harvard.edu/tuvalu-fight-to-exist/