TUVALU

Position Paper
Understanding the Threat of Climate Change
Climate change is a worldwide issue that requires urgent and coordinated action from all
countries, groups and in fact individuals. This urgency requirement is clearly experienced by our
country, Tuvalu.
Tuvalu is a remote island nation in the south of Pacific Ocean. This nation is associated
with the rising impacts of climate change because of its physical vulnerability. These impacts of
climate change are considered as heavy burden for the Tuvaluans as shown by scenarios and
warnings of international scientists on climate change and its inevitable consequences.1 For the
21st century, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that there will be a
warming of global temperatures and a rise of the sea level by up to almost one meter.2 Coming
from this, there is no surprise that the IPCC concludes that of all the threats facing small island
nations as a result of climate change, sea-level rise is by far the greatest, both economically and
socially.3 Now, why does climate change cause the sea levels to rise? The main cause for rising
sea levels is the expansion of water due to an increase in water temperature. Additional factors
are the melting of mountain glaciers and the ice covering in Greenland, resulting from an
increase in temperature of the earths atmosphere.4
The Tuvalu then is affected by this phenomenon because of its small landmass making it
vulnerable to any rise in sea level, as is the case for many other low-lying nations and islands in
the Pacific, such as Kiribati and the Marshall Islands.5 As predicted, the continued sea level rise
might cause the disappearance of this string of low-lying islands in the south-west Pacific.
However, the adverse effect of climate change is not automatically disappearance. It will
eventually cause environmental problems first. These include the loss of coastal lands, flooding
and soil salinization which is harmful to crops, ground water sources, and land and marine
biodiversity. Hence, the groundwater is not potable. That is, the water reserves located in the socalled freshwater lens are affected with salinity intrusion into it due to rising sea levels. This
harmful effect is also detrimental to taro (pulaka) and other crops because of their low capacity
to take in salt. Thus, it affects the food security of the country. In addition, floods and storm
surges are intensified in its intensity and even if the sea were to rise only 0.5 meters and beach
head erosion also occurs because of the use of sand for building materials.6. Furthermore,
damage to coral reefs from increasing ocean temperature and acidification is also evident.
Moreover, forced migration or relocation is now an option to the Tuvaluans because of
the climate change situation. As reported, in 2000, the government appealed to Australia and
New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea levels should make evacuation necessary.
1

German watch
Ibid.
3
(IPCC 2001, pp. 847 and 855).
4
German watch
5
Tuvalu Joining forces to tackle climate change)
6
The World FactBook, CIA website, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tv.html Page
updated last September 4, 2015
2

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Position Paper
We know the adverse effect of climate change in the country. They do not have the
capacities to react and adapt in an adequate manner. This results from a combination of different
factors including limited access to capital and technology, human resources and technology or
simply relates to the size of the country. Now, how then can the country respond on that
urgency? What are the actions that must be taken by Tuvalu to prevent climate change?
One of the actions taken by Tuvalu is using a renewable energy program, with the help of
Norwegian consultants. The government is discussing the possibility of eventually shifting the
country's energy usage from fossil fuel to the consumption of 100 percent renewable energy
(ICE-PAC). That is by using renewable energy their dependence on imported diesel which
causes carbon emissions will be cut. Yet, Tuvalus carbon emissions are just a small percentage
in contributing to climate change unlike other countries. That is, according to a data from
Germanwatch and IPCC, the 7.1 million citizens in 22 Pacific Island countries, including
Tuvalu, are responsible for CO2 emissions of approximately 6.816 million tons of CO2 per year.
In contrast, the global CO2 emissions arising from fossil fuel combustion alone are 22,620.46 mt
of CO2 per year. That means the Pacific islands region as a whole accounts for only 0.03% of the
global emissions of CO2 from fuel combustion. There is then a wide gap between Tuvalus
global contributions in greenhouse gas emissions between other countries. But why is that the
country suffers more consequences? Life must go on in Tuvalu, it is then a great task and effort
to prevent or reduce the phenomenon climate change and other related challenges.

TUVALU
Position Paper
Climate Change Mitigations
Shortage of Potable Water
The issue of water in Tuvalu worsens not only because of climate change related factors,
but also as a result of the local pollution, stemming from Tuvalus growth in population
combined with the countrys poor environmental management. The increase of both solid and
liquid wastes threatens the underground drinking water and the adjacent sea water.
During the Tuvalu Climate Change Summit in 2011, the country created the National
Strategic Action Plan for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management. On top of NSAPCCs
goals is to strengthen adaptation actions to address current and future vulnerabilities. The
strategy provides for integrated and coordinated water resources (including desalination)
planning and management including preparedness and response plans for each island. Other
specific actions include the upgrade and/or procure of water quality testing equipment and make
these available to all islands. The project aims to assess water availability and feasibility of water
security options including rain water harvesting, underground water and desalination on all
islands.
NSAPCCs projects include increasing water storage capacity on four of Tuvalus islands
with the help of the United Nation Development Programs Least Developed Countries Fund and
AusAID, as well as work carried out by the Tuvalu Association of Non-Governmental
Organizations, a network of grassroots NGOs, on initiatives such as environmental awareness
campaigns and tree-planting projects.
The expected outcome would lead to water security (adequate water quality and quantity)
and the countrys preparedness for droughts and other extreme events.
NSAP implementation thrives on the financial assistance through external donors and
development partners who will coordinate with the NSAPCC Management Team.
Sea Level Rise
Tuvalu's highest point is not higher than 5 meters. According to the Third Assessment
Report of the IPCC, the sea level is projected to rise another 0.09 meters to 0.88 meters by the
end of this century at the rate of 5 mm an average per year, which is two to four times higher
than that of the past 100 years. This would definitely mean that sea level rise is a high risk to the
life and health of the inhabitants.
Meanwhile, as Tuvalu is near the cyclone belt, it is always at risk from the tropical storms
and cyclones. Cyclone Bebe, the worst cyclone in living memory, hit the islands in October
1972, leaving 800 people homeless and the Funafuti atoll devastated. Also, flooding of low-lying
areas are most of the time experienced by the Tuvaluans.

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Position Paper
Coastal erosion is also caused by the rising water levels. As projected in the study of the
UNFCCC, the rise in sea level of 50 cm to 95 cm could amount to one meter of shoreline loss
per year.
With regard to this problem, Tuvalu as a member-state of the Alliance of the Small Island
States (AOSIS), a coalition of small islands and low-lying coastal countries, is vocal with the
development challenges and concerns about the environment, especially their vulnerability to the
adverse effects of global climate change. The said coalition functions primarily as an ad hoc
lobby and negotiating voice for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) within the United
Nations.
Tuvalu Climate Change Policy is directly linked to the National Strategic Action Plan for
Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management (NSAP). Both have proposed actions to combat
issues pertaining to climate change particularly the rise of sea level. As an overview, the Policy
covers climate change impacts and related climate and hydrological hazards whereas the NSAP
covers geological and anthropological hazards and related disasters.
One of the goals of the Climate Change Policy is to guarantee the security of the people
of Tuvalu from the impacts of climate change and the maintenance of national sovereignty. It
primarily speaks for the security the EEZ of Tuvalu (approved coordinates) as belonging to the
Government and People of Tuvalu regardless of any loss of coastal areas or islands due to
impacts of climate change such as sea level rise. With this, Tuvalus constitution and legislation
are amended to address Tuvalus sovereignty taking into consideration climate change impacts
and projections on Tuvalus EEZ and likewise, was the finalization of Tuvalus marine
boundaries.
Another strategy related to combat the said problem is to ensure that Tuvalu continued to
have the capacity to remain as a nation. The country is consistent with formation of a resilient
Tuvalu that continues to be inhabitable to current and future generation of its people. Currently,
the country is undergoing with the establishment of an international legal framework for the
resettlement and recognition of Tuvalu within another country as a sovereign state if Tuvalu
islands disappear because of sea level rise.
Low Agricultural Productivity
In Tuvalu, the overall population has shifted its food diet from traditional food to
imported food. This is due to limited land for subsistence agriculture and the increased
purchasing power of the employed population.
The second goal of the Climate Change Policy in Tuvalu is to improve the understanding
and application of climate change data, information and site specific impacts assessment to
inform adaptation and disaster risk reduction programs. Its strategy includes the developing of
weather and climate products (weather maps, weather charts, tide predictions etc.) for the use of
the agriculture and fisheries sectors, tourists operators, women and men.

TUVALU
Position Paper
Destruction of Coral Reefs
The decrease of natural breakwaters, like coral reefs, is brought by global warming. This
worsens the effects of storm surges and floods. According to UNFCCC, reef-building corals
have low tolerance for temperature change, some species already are living at their thermal limits
and, within the next few decades, as a result of sea-surface-temperature increase, "the thermal
tolerance of reef-building corals will be exceeded" and the incidence of bleaching will "rise
rapidly".
One measure cited in Tuvalus Climate Change Policy is the strategy to coordinate
planning and management of marine, coastal and land resources and systems (Whole Island
Systems Management/ Ecosystem base management).It calls for an action to assess and seek
international support for reducing the impacts of climate change (such as temperature increase,
ocean acidification, changing pattern of circulation and ocean saturation) on coral reef, seagrass,
algae, mangroves and other ecosystems.
Forced Migration
The worst case scenario for Tuvalu is that the citizens will have to abandon their islands
entirely because of the several factors relating to climate change. However, currently, there is a
lack of international policy for forced migration due to climate change.
Despite the lack of force to accept their refugees on humanitarian grounds, Tuvalu still
needs the signal as to when be the point of forced migration/relocation is. To save its citizens, the
country attempts to provide the option of being environmental refugees in New Zealand or other
countries. Moreover, feasibility studies are still ongoing regarding the costs of relocation.
Even if a single country would accept Tuvaluans as climate refugees and could resettle in
New Zealand or any other country, this would imply the irreplaceable loss of the islands unique
traditional skills and knowledge and long-established culture as identified from their own lands.
Although climate change migration/resettlement plan for each island in view of climate
change impacts is the worst case scenario, Tuvalu has set strategies in the Climate Change Policy
to combat such issue. This is the formation of a Special Pacific Access Category (PAC) for
Tuvaluans considering climate change vulnerability and forced climate migrants. It basically
seeks the international community to establish similar migration arrangement to environmental
refugees due to climate change.
Carbon Emission
Currently, Tuvalu has eight power stations powered by diesel-based generators. Tuvalu
Electricity Corporation (TEC), which is 100% state-owned, has exclusive rights to supply
electricity.

TUVALU
Position Paper
Tuvaluans are powerless when it comes to reducing a large quantity of greenhouse gas
emissions for the fate of their islands. The country has been vocal to remind larger countries with
their responsibilities to reduce carbon emissions based on customary international law pertaining
to transboundary environmental harm on the so called "no-harm-rule This means that a county
may not undertake any action on its own land that would result in harm to another country.
Tuvalu nonetheless remains committed to a mitigation agenda to transition to a lowcarbon future. In 2009, Tuvalu developed its National Energy Policy and Action Plan. Tuvalus
National Energy Policy and Action Plan seek to improve energy efficiency and reduce GHG
emissions through affordable renewable energy.
Tuvalu has ratified the Kyoto Protocol and plans on increasing energy efficiency,
utilizing new energy sources, and promoting carbon sinks, in addition to decreasing vehicle
emissions and using new devices to help to encourage greenhouse gas emission reduction.
In Tuvalus Climate Change Policy, the country ensures energy security and a low carbon
future. The following are the strategies to reach the goal set in the policy: Tuvalu aims to reduce
the reliance on fossil fuels by providing opportunities for renewable energy; promote energy
efficiency and conservation programs, and; provide mitigation plans for the agriculture and
waste management sectors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Together with the other small island nations, Tuvalu also wants to eliminate the use of the
higher polluting Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and establish the land as an ecotourism
destination. Moreover, Tuvalu has begun a renewable energy program with the help of
Norwegian consultants. The government is discussing the possibility of eventually shifting the
country's energy usage from fossil fuel to the consumption of 100 percent renewable energy.
Solar installations were increasing now in the country. Such project was predominantly funded
by the Kansai Electric Power Company from Japan. Moreover, the country has entered
agreements with European Union, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates to support the countrys
transition to solar power.