18 May 2011: In response to a request from Tuvalu, a joint team from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Applied Geoscience and Technology (SOPAC) Division is on mission in the country to assist in the development of a Tuvalu National Climate Change Policy and Joint Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management National Action Plan (JNAP).

The mission is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and SPREP’s Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) Project.

Netatua Pelesikoti, SPREP, highlighted that Tuvalu has yet to develop a national climate change policy, and that such a policy would ensure coordination of climate change adaptation and mitigation activities on the ground. The process to develop a national climate change policy and JNAP will be led by a National Expert Team consisting of the Tuvalu Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) Steering Committee, the National Disaster Council Committee, the Tuvalu National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) coordinator, Second National Communication (SNC) coordinator and the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) coordinator, under the guidance of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Natural Resources and the Environment. [SPREP News]