Final answer:
Nauru, together with Kiribati, Tuvalu, and the Maldives, is a low-lying country facing the threat of becoming endangered due to rising sea levels caused by climate change. These nations are at risk because of their minimal elevation above sea level and limited land area. The situation is so severe that contingency plans such as land purchases in other countries have been considered.
Step-by-step explanation:
Along with Kiribati, Nauru is a low-lying country and so is threatened by sea-level rise to become some of the world's first endangered nations due to climate change. These island nations, such as Tuvalu and the Maldives, are particularly vulnerable because of their small land areas and low elevation, often just a few feet above sea level.
As global temperatures rise and ice caps melt, rising sea levels pose a significant threat to the existence and sustainability of these countries. The highest point in Tuvalu, for example, is only 15 feet above sea level, making any rise in the ocean a risk for possible inundation of the entire nation. Similarly, Kiribati's declaration of its Phoenix Islands as a large protected marine habitat emphasizes the importance of environmental conservation amidst these threats.
Nauru's situation is compounded by its tiny size, covering just about 8 square miles, making it one of the smallest countries in the world alongside the Vatican and Monaco.
In the face of these challenges, some nations, such as the Maldives, have even considered purchasing land in other countries as a contingency plan for potential displacement of their populations. The plight of these island nations highlights the pressing nature of climate change and the immediate risks faced by low-lying countries due to sea-level rise.