Tuvalu’s plan for protecting water, land and community
At a glance
With rising seas threatening its shores and way of life, the island nation of Tuvalu is one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations. To plan for a resilient future, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme engaged GHD to support the development of Tuvalu’s National Adaptation Plan. This practical, community-informed blueprint strengthens resilience across sectors by building local capability, encouraging inclusive decision-making and identifying priority investments. The plan supports Tuvalu in protecting its people, cultural identity and natural environment for the years ahead.
With rising seas threatening its shores and way of life, the island nation of Tuvalu is one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations
The challenge
Tuvalu faces urgent decisions about how to respond to climate change impacts already being felt. Sea level rise, stronger cyclones and prolonged droughts are placing growing pressure on infrastructure, ecosystems and communities. At the same time, the country must navigate limited land availability, complex governance needs and the risk of physical displacement.
To move from short-term responses to long-term planning, Tuvalu needed a coordinated, achievable and well-supported approach to climate adaptation that reflects local priorities and builds national capability.
Our response
Our team brought together a diverse group of climate, governance and community engagement specialists to co-design a four-phase process tailored to Tuvalu’s needs:
- Understanding: We reviewed existing policies, strategies and research to build a clear picture of current conditions and needs. Through interviews and workshops, we identified the gaps, strengths and opportunities in Tuvalu’s climate planning efforts.
- Visioning: Together with community groups, government departments and technical partners including CSIRO and Deloitte, we defined a shared vision for Tuvalu’s future. We facilitated decision-making workshops and created a catalogue of practical adaptation options rooted in science, lived experience and cultural priorities. We incorporated gender and social inclusion from the outset, ensuring every voice had a seat at the table.
- Planning: We prioritised the most feasible and effective initiatives using a multiple-criteria decision framework co-designed with stakeholders. We also mapped out a financing strategy to make implementation possible, now and into the future.
- Communication: We developed a framework to ensure information flows across sectors and communities, using digital tools, traditional storytelling and respectful, inclusive engagement.
Throughout the project, we focused on building local capability. A tailored capacity building program supported government and community leaders to take the lead in adaptation planning.
The impact
Tuvalu’s National Adaptation Plan is a shared vision for a stronger, climate-resilient nation. The plan provides a roadmap to safeguard homes, ecosystems and livelihoods, while protecting Tuvaluan heritage and community wellbeing.
It strengthens local institutions and gives decision-makers the tools to implement solutions based on sound data, lived experience and long-term priorities. The financing strategy provides a bridge between adaptation goals and the support needed to realise them.
This work reflects GHD’s Future of Water approach: using strategic planning and local partnership to help communities build climate resilience and protect water and people for generations to come.