Funafuti, Tuvalu: A key consultation and coordination workshop has concluded in Funafuti uniting government officials and development partners to review and strategise on coastal adaptation efforts in Tuvalu. The workshop assessed past achievements and lessons learnt, current challenges, and future priorities for protecting the nation’s vulnerable coastlines.

This consultation comes at a critical time, ahead of COP29 in Azerbaijan, and follows the recent announcement of funding for the second phase of the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project (TCAP-II). Supported by the governments of Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, this new phase aims to scale up climate-resilient coastal protection efforts to combat the impacts of climate change.

For Tuvalu, rising sea levels pose an existential threat. Even with the most ambitious global emission reductions, sea-level rise will eventually make the islands uninhabitable. The only uncertainty is when. This sobering reality underscores the need for long-term adaptation strategies, as no action can fully prevent the inevitable.

In response, Tuvalu is shifting towards more proactive vertical adaptation solutions, designed to match the scale of the challenges ahead.

The workshop brought together existing donor partners who have supported Tuvalu's coastal adaptation efforts, alongside new stakeholders keen to learn from the lessons of the first phase of TCAP. Coordinated by the UN Development Programme’s (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji and the Government of Tuvalu, the workshop featured presentations from government on current strategies and future projects, while providing space for donor partners to discuss continued support toward Tuvalu’s adaptation efforts.

Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Hon. Feleti Teo, opened the workshop and commended the TCAP team and donor partners for their efforts in implementing these coastal adaptation works in both Funafuti and the outer-lying islands of Nanumea and Nanumaga. 

“When I speak on climate change and sea level rise when travelling abroad, I continue to emphasise that TCAP is Tuvalu’s flagship adaptation project, and this will remain our flagship project will into the future.”  

Munkhtuya Altangerel, Resident Representative of the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, said:  

“This workshop is a vital step forward in enhancing our coordination toward coastal adaptation activities in Tuvalu as we explore innovative approaches, tap into traditional knowledge, and develop solutions that are uniquely suited to the needs of Tuvalu and its communities. The insights gained here can inspire efforts across other small island developing states, serving as a crucial step towards securing the atoll nation’s future in the face of unprecedented environmental challenges.”

The workshop concluded with both Government of Tuvalu and donor partners agreeing to continue this collaboration in support of Tuvalu’s medium-term development priorities in coastal protection.  

For more information contact:

Nick Turner | Strategic Communications and Advocacy Specialist, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji | nicholas.turner@undp.org