Abstract

Located 1100 km north of Fiji, Tuvalu is composed of 9 atolls, disseminated across nearly 1 million km² of territorial waters. The flat low-lying islands of Tuvalu make this tiny nation the most exposed to climate change impact. Tuvaluan society seems to be aware of climate change implications. The total population is around 10,500 people and with a total land surface of only 26 km² the population density is high. Geographical conditions and isolation have negative impacts on the national economy. There is often a distinct lack of capacity for accessing funding and implementing projects. Increased project cost associated with isolated Small Island Developing States (SIDS) often mean that projects are seen as having low impact and high cost. The effectiveness of Tuvalu’s current climate change projects (GHG abatement; food security; and biodiversity) are also assessed.