Tuvalu National Strategic Action Plan for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management 2012-2016.

The present National Strategic Action Plan for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management (NSAP) is a multi-sectoral document adapting measures as part of an integrated strategy of the Tuvalu’s government and its sustainable development programs and plans. Its ultimate aim is 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. It should be noted that the afore-mentioned NSAP is also the operational implementation plan for Tuvalu’s Climate Change Policy (TCCP, 2011) known as “Te Kaniva´. Therefore the NSAP and Te Kaniva should be read and considered together. The Plan consists of 4 chapters as follows: Background (I); Development of the National Strategic Action Plan for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Rationale (II); The National Strategic Action Plan for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management (III); Implementation Strategy (IV)
Based on Tuvalu’s climate change and disaster risks context, seven thematic goals were developed. These cover adaptation, mitigation and disaster risk management and they are of equal priority and require urgent implementation: Goal 1: Strengthening Adaptation Actions to Address Current and Future Vulnerabilities; Goal 2: Improving Understanding and Application of Climate Change Data, Information and Site Specific Impacts Assessment to Inform Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Programmes; Goal 3: Enhancing Tuvalu’s Governance Arrangements and Capacity to Access and Manage Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Finances. In order to strengthen the governance the following actions shall be taken: Review and update legislations, policies and bylaws relevant for enforcement of coordination in delivering climate change and DRM programmes/projects; Conduct awareness programmes of the updated policies and by laws for all agencies; Build the capacity of the Aid Coordination Unit with appropriate tools and processes that are effective and efficient to monitor coordination among donor agencies; Develop and implement regular sector and community awareness programmes addressing climate change and disaster risk reduction finances. Goal 4: Developing and Maintaining Tuvalu’s Infrastructure to withstand Climate Change Impacts, Climate Variability, Disaster Risks and Climate Change Projection (4). To strengthen the infrastructure some of the following strategies shall be implemented: Assess the safety of key infrastructure (e.g. power station, telecom, meteorological services, airport, wharfs, roads, hospital, schools, churches and Falekaupule in Funafuti and outer islands) from climate change impacts, climate variability and projectedclimate change and disaster risks; Develop purpose built shelters for all islands starting from the most vulnerable islands. Goal 5: Ensuring Energy Security and a Low Carbon Future for Tuvalu (5); Goal 6: Planning for Effective Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery. To achieve this strategies shall concentrate on providing personnel (additional staff) support to the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO); Develop a disaster management plan for Island Disaster Committees to be included in their ISP. Goal 7: Guaranteeing the Security of the People of Tuvalu from the Impacts of Climate Change and the Maintenance of National Sovereignty.
The key strategy for the implementation of Te Kaniva and NSAP is to ensure an all of government and community integrated approach to the implementation of the priorities identified in these two national policy and strategy documents.