12TH JULY, 2014

NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY

TAIPEI CITY, REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN)

INTRODUCTION TO TUVALU

SIZE

Fourth smallest nation & second smallest developing nation

in the world

Landmass=26 square kilometres

Population=9,561 people

Landmass and population spread over 500,000 square

kilometres of sea territory

Funafuti is Tuvalu’s most populated island and holds 58% of

the population

ACCESSIBILITY

Travel between islands conducted by boat

Planes only travel to and from Tuvalu from

Fiji

Planes only depart for Tuvalu twice a week

and seat at most 40 people

Communications between islands

accomplished using telephones, postal

services and radiophones

Internet is available, but accessibility is

limited

ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE

Strategies to Increase Revenues:

1. Tuvalu Maritime Training Institute trains seafarers

2. Marketing of national stamps and coins

3. Marketing of “.tv” domain name

4. Selling annual fishing licenses to foreign vessels

5. Establishment of Tuvalu Trust Fund and

Falekaupule Trust Fund

Limitations on Economic Growth:1. Limited exports and no land-based natural resources2. Infertile soil and limited water lead to restricted farming3. Reliance on imports and foreign development assistance

TOPOGRAPHY

All Tuvaluan land is “low-lying”

Tuvalu’s highest points are less than 5 metres above sea level

The majority of the population lives only 1 metre above sea level!

Tuvalu’s islands are extremely narrow

Construction during WWII has loosened soil and increased erosion

HOW CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS TUVALU

Max temperature in Funafuti has increased at 0.21°C per decade since 1950

From 1950-2009, Funafuti’s rate of sea-level rise was 3 times the global average

Ocean acidification levels near Tuvalu have been increasing since the 18th century

SEA LEVEL RISE

Sea levels will rise between ½ and 1 metre by 2100

The majority of Tuvalu’s populated land will disappear

Saltwater flooding will affect farming activities and water supplies

As sea levels rise, the people of Tuvalu will be displaced

SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS AND CORAL REEFS

Severe weather events, especially cyclones and droughts, are occurring more frequently

Corals are destroyed because of increases in water temperature and ocean acidification

Corals can no longer protect Tuvalu from severe weather events like cyclones

RISING TEMPERATURES

Annual air and sea surface temperatures will continue to increase

By 2030, temperature increases will amount to between 0.4°C and 1.0°C

Coral bleaching will increase, agricultural and marine resources will be reduced, fresh water will decline and Tuvaluan citizens will be affected by increased health risks

SUMMARY OF CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS

Sea level rise

Intense storms and tropical cyclones

Droughts

Increases in temperature

Increases in ocean acidification

TUVALU’S CURRENT CLIMATE CHANGE POLICIES

Tuvalu’s national strategy for sustainable development: Te Kakeega II (2005-2015)

Vision: “by 2015, guided by strong spiritual values enshrined in its motto—‘Tuvalu mo te Atua’—we will have achieved a healthy, educated, peaceful and prosperous Tuvalu.”

8 Strategic Areas:1. Good governance2. Macroeconomic growth and stability3. Social development4. Outer island and Falekaupule development5. Employment and private sector development6. Human resource development7. Natural resources development8. Development of infrastructure and support services

TUVALU’S CLIMATE CHANGE POLICIES

Te Kaniva, Tuvalu Climate Change Policy

2012 (TCCP)

1. Theory behind Tuvalu’s climate change policy

2. Includes a policy vision and 7 thematic goals

Tuvalu National Strategic Action Plan for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management (NSAP)

1. TCCP’s implementation plan

2. Includes operational strategies, implementation arrangements, costing

and evaluation measures

TCCP VISION

“To protect Tuvalu’s status as a nation and its cultural identity and

to build its capacity to ensure a safe, resilient and prosperous

future.”

TCCP GOAL 1

Strengthening Adaptation Actions to Address Current and Future Vulnerabilities

TCCP Goal 2

Improving Understanding and Application of Climate Change Data, Information and

Site Specific Impacts Assessment to Inform Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction

Programmes

TCCP GOAL 3

Enhancing Tuvalu’s Governance Arrangements and Capacity to Access

and Manage Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Finances

TCCP GOAL 4Developing and Maintaining Tuvalu’s Infrastructures to Withstand Climate Change Impacts, Climate Variability, Disaster Risks and Climate Change

Projection

TCCP GOAL 5

Ensuring Energy Security and a Low Carbon Future for Tuvalu

TCCP GOAL 6

Planning for Effective Disaster Preparedness, Response and

Recovery

TCCP GOAL 7

Guaranteeing the Security of the People of Tuvalu from the Impacts

of Climate Change and the Maintenance of National

Sovereignty

OPPORTUNITIES FOR TAIWANESE NPOS/NGOS

Implementing the TCCP and NSAP requires funding, expertise and manpower

Tuvalu engages in fruitful cooperation with TaiwanICDF

Monetary funding is necessary, but NPOs, NGOs and volunteer groups can provide assistance via professional knowledge and labour support

PLANNED RELOCATION—SOLUTION OR

PROCRASTINATION

If climate change and sea level rise are threatening Tuvalu, can’t the population just be relocated to a safer location?

Poses a threat to Tuvalu’s national sovereignty

Will allow major producers of greenhouse gas emissions to ignore the climate change problem

Conclusion