Te Kaniva: Tuvalu National Climate Change Policy

Te Kaniva (referring to the traditional travelling method of using stars and daily weather patterns to navigate) outlines the strategic policies for responding to climate change impacts and related disaster risks for the period 2012-2021. It was co-ordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Tourism, Environment and Labour, in collaboration with numerous other government agencies, and with the support of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, the Applied Geoscience and Technology Division of Secretariat of the Pacific Community, and the UNDP.

It defines seven thematic goals, each containing detailed strategies and subsequent expected outcomes. The goals are:
- Strengthening adaptation actions to address current and future vulnerabilities;
- Improving understanding and application of climate change data, information and site specific impacts assessment to information adaptation and disaster risk reduction programmes;
- Enhancing governance arrangements and capacity to access and manage climate change and disaster risk management finances;
- Developing and maintaining infrastructures to withstand climate change impacts, climate variability, disaster risks and climate change projection;
- Ensuring energy security and a low carbon future for Tuvalu;
- Planning for effective disaster preparedness, response and recovery; and
- Guaranteeing the security of the people of Tuvalu from the impacts of climate change and the maintenance of national sovereignty.

Specific implementation, monitoring and evaluation arrangements are outlined in the National Strategic Action Plan for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management (below).