L-TAP: Tuvalu's Long-term Adaptation Plan
Tuvalu
Duration: Since 2022
Leading organisations: UNDP, Government of Tuvalu
Classification
Risks
Solutions
Actors
Costs
Summary
Tuvalu is an atoll nation whose capital Funafuti has an average of elevation 0.5m above normal spring high tides, making it particularly vulnerable to SLR. 46% of the central built area of Fongafale, the largest islet of the capital Funafuti, is already below sea level. By 2050, it is estimated that half of the land area of Fongafale will become flooded by daily tidal waters and by 2100, 95% of the land area may be flooded by routine high tide.
In response to the pressing challenges incurred by SLR, the Government of Tuvalu, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has developed L-TAP: Tuvalu’s Long-Term Adaptation Plan. L-TAP is the first technically feasible, national adaptation plan founded in science and consistent with known sea level rise. The plan is designed to accommodate the national population from across all islands into the capital, safely beyond 2100. It involves the provision of raised land to accommodate staged relocation of people and infrastructure, new and upgraded housing and transport facilities, as well as improved water supply. Depending on future changes in sea level and requirements after 2100, a second phase involving additional land raising is also incorporated into L-TAP planning.
Actions
The L-TAP builds on the comprehensive data collected through airborne Light Detection And Ranging technology (known as LiDAR) to map Tuvalu’s atolls and the work of the successful Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project (TCAP), financed by the Green Climate Fund and implemented by UNDP. LiDAR was deployed to rapidly collect precise information on land surface height and sea floor depth. Data was collected in all of Tuvalu’s nine atoll systems, including islands and surrounding reefs and lagoons, amounting to around 500 square kilometres in total. This baseline data has been foundational to better assess the relationship between sea level rise and land elevation across all 9 atolls of Tuvalu and understand their relative merits in respect to long term adaptation engineering potential.
The L-TAP involves the provision of 3.6 square km of raised land to accommodate staged relocation of people and infrastructure over time. In that regard, it aligns and enshrines in the longer term Tuvalu’s Coastal Adaptation Project (TCAP) which provides the creation of 7.3 hectares of new and raised land on the capital Fongafale (Funafuti Atoll) and outer rural islands of Nanumaga and Nanumea aims to secure communities from future marine hazards.
The provision of raised land is planned to accommodate staged relocation of people and infrastructure over time. Funafuti already attracts urban drift from the outer islands to the Capital generating Tuvalu’s largest and mixed community. These dynamics combined with geophysical characteristics mean efforts for staged relocation are now centred on Fongafale. The land expansion will allow for future development of housing, facilities, public recreation areas, and a protected sandy beach, as well as improvements to the harbour and airport. The new reclaimed land will be graded to facilitate stormwater drainage, and improvements to the airport will incorporate large scale rainwater catchments and collection.
While L-TAP is designed to remain safe beyond 2100, it nonetheless incorporates the potential for a Phase II, depending on future needs, involving new elevated levels on existing land in Fongafale.
Outcomes
The project is ongoing
“While initiatives such as this offer hope in adapting to the consequences of climate change, clearly, long-term adaptation will depend on much more. Concerted efforts are required to unblock the flow of private capital to Tuvalu and address macroeconomic factors and increase economic growth.
It is also critical to recognize the “loss and damage” implications for countries like Tuvalu. These societies are the first to pay the price of climate change and emissions released in other parts of the world. Yet they are also the ones leading the way in confronting climate challenges and demonstrating that change is possible, with courage, foresight, and imagination. The rest of the world must step up without delay.” (source : Notes from Tuvalu: Leading the way in adapting to sea-level rise | United Nations Development Programme)
Resources
Contact
- Arthur Webb (UNDP) : arthur.webb@undp.org