SummaryTuvalu is a remote island nation often associated withthe rising impacts of climate change. If, as predicted, sealevels continue to rise, this string of low-lying islands inthe south-west Pacific could gradually disappear.However, life must go on in Tuvalu, and efforts arebeing made through risk reduction and disasterpreparedness to lessen the worst effects of globalwarming and other challenges facing the population. Inthe vanguard of such initiatives is the Tuvalu Red CrossSociety, aided by some enthusiastic volunteers andstrong partnerships with government and civil society.

BackgroundTuvalu is made up of nine tiny islands in the south-westPacific stretching 1,000 km from north to south andwith a total landmass of just 26 sq km. The capitalFunafuti is situated on a coral atoll approximately 7 kmlong and 400 m at its widest point, bordered by aturquoise lagoon on one side and open ocean on theother. It is home to 4,000 of the country’s 11,000people, vying for space with pigs, vegetable plots, roads,a runway and other infrastructure. Population densityfor the whole country is 378.9 people per sq km, higherthan in Japan or India. Medical and government servicesare all concentrated on Funafuti, where there is also anoutpost of the University of the South Pacific.

Tuvalu is strongly influenced by Polynesian culture. Theoriginal settlers came from Samoa and Tonga over 3,000years ago. Christian beliefs are most common in thecountry and bring people together in dance, celebrationand even competition. Everyone knows everyone else inFunafuti, and there is a tradition of sharing. Youth andwomen’s groups are strong and active. Women’s groupsfacilitate development work by carrying out skillstraining for women in, for example, screen printing andsewing to increase household income. Young peoplelend a hand by fundraising for small projects for theirisland communities and by organizing social gatherings.

Many Tuvaluans rely on remittances sent home byseafarers or on earnings from seasonal work in NewZealand. For others in Tuvalu, fishing is a major sourceof income. Only 30 per cent of the population have a

wage, mainly those working in the government sector.The rest survive largely on a subsistence lifestyle.

Like the rest of the world, Tuvalu is experiencing risingtemperatures. Although temperature records only dateback to 1977, a clear trend is emerging, with a markedincrease in both winter and summer temperatures. Rainfallrecords, which date back further, show a decrease inoverall rainfall. Tuvalu’s small landmass makes it especiallyvulnerable to any rise in sea level, as is the case for manyother low-lying nations and islands in the Pacific, such asKiribati and the Marshall Islands. Moreover, its highestpoint is just 4.5 metres above sea level, meaning that thereare no inland areas or higher ground to flee to during astorm surge or tsunami. A gauge located on the wharf atFunafuti that measures sea level has recorded that there areincreasingly higher peak sea level events, increasing therisk of inundation by sea surges.

Apart from its vulnerability to rising sea levels, Tuvalu isalso at risk of cyclones, tsunamis, house fires, drought,and flooding due to high tides and storm surges. Theouter islands are very isolated, making communicationsdifficult, if not impossible at times; the country’s twocargo/passenger boats operate when they can to deliveressential supplies.

The country’s plight has brought it into the internationalspotlight, with television crews and photojournalistsdescending regularly on the capital to capture images ofthe “sinking islands”. Predictions of further melting ofthe ice sheets in the coming decades do not bode well forthe country. In the mean time, the Tuvalu Red CrossSociety is doing all it can to prepare for and alleviate theadverse effects of these developments.

Addressing climate changeThe Tuvalu Red Cross Society was established in 1981and has branches on each of the country’s islands, witharound 100 volunteers on Funafuti atoll alone. It is notyet a fully fledged National Society, pending recognitionand admission to the International Red Cross and RedCrescent Movement. In addition to activities related toclimate change and disaster management, its

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Tuvalu: Joiningforces to tackleclimate change

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programmes include HIV/AIDS, blood donorrecruitment and life skills training.

With only three permanent staff members, the TuvaluRed Cross Society relies on volunteers to reach out to thebroader Tuvaluan community. Some of the volunteers arevery committed, taking time off work to assist with theannual appeal and activities that occur during the week.Tuvalu Red Cross Society volunteers assist with elementsof disaster response and preparedness, administration,fundraising and dissemination. In a context of high youthunemployment, volunteering gives young people theopportunity to learn new skills, interact with their peersand contribute positively to society.

In 2005, the Tuvalu Red Cross Society agreed to takepart in a pilot project on climate change, in conjunctionwith the International Federation of Red Cross and RedCrescent Societies’ Pacific delegation based in Suva,making it the first Red Cross Society in the Pacific toaddress the issue. The project benefited from thefinancial support of the Japanese Red Cross Society andthe Canada Fund and from the technical support of theNetherlands-based Red Cross/Red Crescent Centre onClimate Change and Disaster Preparedness.

The aim of the pilot project was to investigate andtackle the issue of climate change within the nationalcontext. To do so, the Tuvalu Red Cross Society lookedat different components of the disaster risk managementspectrum, from preparedness and response to adaptationto climate change and development. The Societyanalysed the issues, identified opportunities andsolutions, and implemented them with the aid ofnational and local stakeholders and communities.

To start with, much groundwork had to be done toinform other like-minded groups of the unique role of theRed Cross, with a view to building future partnerships.The Tuvalu Red Cross Society now contributes to theclimate change country team, as well as to the nationaldisaster management working group. The Tuvalu RedCross Society is a founding member of the TuvaluClimate Action Network (TuCAN), a joint government-civil society body that promotes cooperation in relation tothe issue of climate change, by raising awareness andsharing skills and knowledge. The Tuvalu Red CrossSociety also has a special agreement with the World WideFund for Nature (WWF), which enables it to maintain itsindependence and neutrality while taking an active partin WWF activities. A representative of the Tuvalu RedCross Society was nominated as the civil societyrepresentative to attend the Conference of the Parties tothe Kyoto Protocol, which met in Bali in December

2007. TuCAN also reflects a bridging of the climatechange and disaster management sectors at the regionallevel, with collaboration between WWF and theInternational Federation on a number of initiatives.

Two of the three Tuvalu Red Cross Society staff membersunderwent regional vulnerability and capacity assessment(VCA) training and will be able to contribute these skillsto a number of climate change adaptation projectsscheduled by the government and WWF. Rather thanpotentially duplicate processes in such a small country,Tuvalu Red Cross Society staff will be used as resourcepeople in conducting the participatory work.

The Tuvalu Red Cross Society climate change anddisaster management officer received training in thePacific Emergency Response Team curriculum at theInternational Federation’s Pacific delegation in Suva inOctober 2006. He in turn trained 17 volunteers inFunafuti in March 2007. When a series of large wavesstruck a low-lying part of the Funafuti atoll early onemorning in April 2007, flooding a number of houses,six families totalling over 100 people were evacuatedwith the assistance of the volunteer members of theEmergency Response Team. The Tuvalu Red CrossSociety housed some of the evacuees temporarily at theRed Cross headquarters in Funafuti while others werehoused in meeting halls. Tuvalu Red Cross Societydistributed relief materials such as tarpaulins, watercontainers and cooking sets. The government publiclythanked the Tuvalu Red Cross Society on national radiofor its prompt response. To assist in future responseefforts, a lockable “response box” has since been built inthe main office, containing high-visibility vests, portableradios, torches, forms and other items needed for therapid deployment of the Emergency Response Team.

Reducing riskThere is growing recognition of the link betweenenvironmental degradation and disaster risk: cleaning up

3Tuvalu: Joining forces to tackle climate change

debris can prevent such items turning into missiles inthe event of strong winds or cyclones; planting trees inexposed areas can create a buffer from storm surges anderosion; halting marine degradation on reefs can helplimit the impacts of climate change. On WorldEnvironment Day in 2007, the Tuvalu Red CrossSociety, in partnership with youth groups, Alofa Tuvalu,Island Care and the Environment Department, tookpart in activities such as cleaning up the shoreline andplanting pandanus along the coast. They conductedsimilar activities in 2008, as well as a nationwide quizamong youth groups. Such activities combine well withmessages promoting disaster preparedness and a cleaner,safer environment.

For the past two years, the Tuvalu Red Cross Society hashad a regular slot on national radio through which itbroadcasts messages on health, the environment, climatechange and disaster preparedness and promotes itsactivities. For example, during dry periods, the Red Crossreminds people to use water wisely, offers advice on boilingwater and stresses the importance of hand washing. Theshow has included competitions among schoolchildren andthe general public to raise awareness of actions people cantake to protect themselves from disaster risks.

To assist in addressing communication problems bothduring a disaster and at normal times, the New ZealandRed Cross has rolled out a communications strategyacross the Pacific in conjunction with Pacific NationalSocieties. The “Talking Briefcase” contains a satellitephone, various types of charger, and instructions on howto operate it, all in a waterproof carry case. The TuvaluRed Cross Society has been distributing the phones tothe outer islands and training branch volunteers in theiruse. The “Talking Suitcase”, also supplied by the NewZealand Red Cross and containing a portable VHFradio repeater system, provides handheld radios foremergency response and a repeater, which quadruplesthe area covered by the radio when searching for a lostfisherman in the Pacific.

Positioning satellite phones on remote islands increaseswarning times and reduces response times for climate-and non-climate-related disasters. During the Pacific-widetsunami alert in March 2007, some outer islands that hadexisting communication problems used the Red CrossSociety satellite phone system to update the Tuvalu RedCross Society headquarters and National DisasterManagement Office of their situation. Shortly afterwards,lightning cut off communications nationwide. The TuvaluRed Cross used its satellite phones to deal with emergencycases and rented them out to the public to raise funds.

When distributing the equipment, the Tuvalu Red CrossSociety also works with communities to map hazards,such as storms, and find out what coping mechanismsthey have that can be built upon. It conducts integratedprogrammes with communities on disaster preparednessand first aid, in which information on climate change isincorporated since it is such a major concern for thecountry. The National Society facilitates discussions onthe effects of climate change on the community andwhat solutions they and others such as the governmentcan come up with to counter those effects.

Young people have also been actively involved in RedCross programmes Society. School programmes runjointly by the Tuvalu Red Cross, the TuvaluMeteorological Office and the National DisasterManagement Office have targeted primary school pupils.The programmes provide an overview of the role of eachagency, tips on survival before, during and after a disaster,and information on climate and weather, and includedrawing activities, a question and answer session, andfirst-aid training. Young people have also participated in anational poster design competition on climate change.

Project impacts! The response capacity on the islands has improved

and been put to the test during flooding events:trained Red Cross volunteers are a valuable additionto the small resource base of the National DisasterManagement Office.

! There is a better understanding of the Red Cross roleand principles among the general public and nationalstakeholders, which is an important first step inbuilding future partnerships.

! Branches on the outer islands are being revived toenable better outreach, with “on location” trainedvolunteers able to respond quickly in the event of anemergency.

! The Tuvalu Red Cross Society is now an activemember of the National Disaster Committee andworks in partnership with the National Disaster

Tataua Pese ofthe Tuvalu RedCross Societyexplains how touse a satellitephone foremergencycommunications.

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For more information, please contact:International Federationof Red Cross and Red Crescent SocietiesDisaster Policy and Preparedness DepartmentP.O. Box 372CH-1211 Geneva 19 - SwitzerlandE-mail: secretariat@ifrc.orgWeb site: www.ifrc.org

Tuvalu Red Cross SocietyFunafutiP.O. Box 14TuvaluTel.: +688 20740/20706E-mail: redcross@tuvalu.tv

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Management Office and the Tuvalu MeteorologicalOffice, facilitating the sharing of expertise and thepooling of resources.

! Eight satellite phones have been distributed to theouter islands and the isolated islet of Funafala tofacilitate emergency communications.

! People in Tuvalu have a better understanding ofclimate change and what steps can be taken toaddress it.

! Youth groups know about and are involved in RedCross activities. They have taken part in workshopson climate change and disaster risk reduction,prompting them to initiate related activities in theirown communities.

! In an international exchange, the Tuvalu Red CrossSociety has been providing materials to a British RedCross youth worker who has been highlighting theimpacts of climate change in Tuvalu in schools in theUnited Kingdom; the materials are being used for thedevelopment of youth drama based on the floodingevent that occurred.

Lessons learned! Developing working relationships with other

organizations and government bodies results in lessduplication, greater sharing of knowledge, and betterfunding efficiency when efforts are pooled.

! Hiring out equipment, with the right provisions inplace, can be an effective fundraiser for the RedCross.

! Media interest in Tuvalu in relation to climate changehas provided an opportunity to be proactive andhighlight the work of the Red Cross in addressing therisks associated with climate change.

! Tapping into existing networks, such as youth groups,can be effective; young people can be powerful agentsof change.

! Technical knowledge in government ministries can becomplemented by the use of volunteers to spreadinformation and serve as “the legs and the voice” onthe ground.

! Incorporating simulation exercises and conductingregular refresher courses are important in volunteertraining.

! In a small country, volunteers can be shared betweenorganizations to ensure that they are notunderutilized.

! Sharing experiences with other stakeholders meansthat a topic or a problem can be viewed from manyangles.

! When introducing new technology to the outer islands,it is important to spend as much time as possibletraining people to use it, or it can be quickly forgotten.The caretaker of a satellite phone needs to be proficientin technology, and a back-up needs to be in place incase that person leaves the island or forgets how to usethe phone. To counteract this, the headquartersconducts regular scheduled “call-ins” so that they knowwhen there is a problem and users get practice.

Next stepsThe Tuvalu Red Cross Society plans to expand itsactivities further to ensure that disaster risk reduction,preparedness and response reach even the furthest islet.Some of its specific plans include to:! Build on existing partnerships and conduct further

activities with the National Disaster ManagementOffice and the National Disaster Committee.

! Conduct more of the activities that have been doneon Funafuti on the outer islands, including courses insea survival skills.

! Develop more information materials in the locallanguage. This is a real challenge becausestandardizing the Tuvaluan language is difficult.

! Raise awareness of the Movement’s structure andinternational response mechanisms, including of theSphere standards.

! Continue to improve the work of TuCAN, incooperation with the government.

! Share VCA skills with the environment departmentwhen the department conducts its next vulnerabilityand adaptation assessments, benefiting bothorganizations.

! Conduct volunteer induction courses on the outerislands for branch development.

! Carry out more activities with communities, linkingprojects to funding sources, such as small grantsfunds.