Tuvalu State of Environment Report 2022

The Tuvalu State of Environment Report presents an overview across four thematic areas: Environmental Governance, Island and Ocean Ecosystems, Climate Change, and Waste. The report uses the ‘Drivers, Pressures, State, Impact and Response’ model to describe the environment. As far as possible the report is based on quantitative data relating to the state of the environment, supplemented by stakeholder input to describe causal relationships and environmental effects. The report presents:

a description of key drivers and pressures on the environment
an assessment of the current state of the environment
a description of current responses and future recommendations for each thematic area.

While challenges to effective environmental governance remain, significant efforts are being made by the Government of Tuvalu to provide adequate resources, comply with international obligations and implement national legislation.

Mixed results for Tuvalu’s environment

Tuvalu’s Climate Resilience

Tuvalu is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change due to being extremely low-lying (the average elevation of all islands is only about 1 m above sea level), relying on the collection of rainfall for freshwater for drinking and household use, and having an economy based largely on the exploitation of natural resources that are vulnerable to changing climate conditions (commercial fisheries).

Tuvalu has made good progress with adaptation planning, but given the size of the adaptation challenge, further investments and support are needed

Since 2013, an annual quota system has been implemented to regulate the import of HCFCs and ensure a complete phase-out by 2030. By ceasing consumption of CFCs and being close to completely phasing-out consumption of HCFCs, Tuvalu is contributing to global efforts to protect the ozone layer, protecting the planet’s surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun despite contributing less to the global total of annual emissions

Key
2021 onwards	Projected values

As Tuvalu is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, it is important to track and measure the country’s preparedness and progress on climate change adaptation

Continued international investment is needed to support Tuvalu’s resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Strengthening adaptation actions to address current and future vulnerabilities.
Develop a National Adaptation Plan and invest in the broader NAP process including the prioritisation of adaptation
Continue to build the capacity of the Tuvalu Meteorological Services with increased training opportunities for staff to improve forecasting capacity in the country

Invasive Species

A total of 83 Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are found in Tuvalu, comprising 14 animal species, 68 plant species, and one virus (banana bunchy top virus). To date, no management plans have been produced for controlling or eradicating invasive alien species, and no sites are managed specifically for IAS.

IAS generate a wide range of impacts, including on native biodiversity (through competing with, predating on, or modifying the habitat of native species), the economy (including through negative impacts on agriculture and fisheries production), and human health and well-being (Global Environment Facility 2017)

List of Invasive species:

rats (Rattus spp., a major threat to nesting birds and other native species)
cane toads (Rhinella marina)
the coconut scale insect (Aspidiotus destructor) which damages food crops including breadfruit, sweet potatoes, and coconut
termites Neotermes rainbowi (which can damage coconut palms)
pink mealybug Maconellicoccus hirsutus (which feeds on breadfruit)
the kou leafworm (Ethmia nigroapicella)
yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes)
weeds (such as mile-a-minute Mikania micrantha, burgrass Cenchrus echinatus, Lantana camara and trailing daisy Sphagneticolaa trilobata)
seaweed (Sargassum polycystum)
crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci).

Lagoon Water Quality

“sediments on Fongafale’s lagoon coast had 2.7x104 more microbial biomass, significantly different microbial community structure, and low microbial diversity, when compared to an undisturbed natural coastal sediment, indicating that pollution of this site is chronic”. Fujita et al. (2013).

Anthropogenic pollution of lagoon seawater is a major issue for atoll conservation, as corals and shells of benthic foraminifera are the major producers of sand. The high levels of E. coli recorded in Fongafale’s coastal lagoon water also pose a significant risk to human health.

Category	Enterococci (cfu/100mL)	Illness risk*
Risk of illness associated with Microbial Assessment Categories
A	<=40	GI illness risk: <1%
A	<=40	AFG illness risk: <0.3%
B	41-200	GI illness risk: 1-5%
B	41-200	AFG illness risk: 0.3-1.9%
C	201-500	GI illness risk: 5-10%
C	201-500	AFG illness risk: 1.9-3.9%
D	>500	GI illness risk: >10%
D	>500	AFG illness risk: >3.9%
* GI = gastrointestinal illness; AFR = acute fever and rash

Source: Australian Government Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreation Water (2008)

Category	Enterococci (cfu/100mL)	Illness risk*
Risk of illness associated with Microbial Assessment Categories
A	<=40	GI illness risk: <1%
A	<=40	AFG illness risk: <0.3%
B	41-200	GI illness risk: 1-5%
B	41-200	AFG illness risk: 0.3-1.9%
C	201-500	GI illness risk: 5-10%
C	201-500	AFG illness risk: 1.9-3.9%
D	>500	GI illness risk: >10%
D	>500	AFG illness risk: >3.9%
* GI = gastrointestinal illness; AFR = acute fever and rash

Source: Australian Government Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreation Water (2008)

Recommendation

There is an urgent need for the development and implementation of effective water quality control and monitoring strategies in Tuvalu.
As it is likely to be prohibitively expensive to improve or replace existing septic tanks, it may be more appropriate to promote composting toilets as a less polluting alternative.
Community education initiatives to promote behaviour change.
A robust lagoon health monitoring program should be developed, with regular sample collection at multiple sites, to build a more detailed understanding of spatial and temporal variations in lagoon water quality.

Per Capita generation of Municipal Solid Waste

It estimated that in 2014 each household in Funafuti generated 23 kg of waste per week (or 0.37 kg/person/ day). The 2017 waste survey report estimated Tuvalu’s daily waste generation at 0.42 kg per person per day – 60% green waste, 15% nappies, 7% plastics, 5% paper, 4% metals and glass, 2% textiles, and 3% other. The 2019 Tuvalu Waste Audit reported that households on Funafuti generate 1,144 kg of waste per day, and other sources (such as commercial premises) generate 1,760 kg per day, giving a total daily waste generation of 2,904 kg. Although no data is currently available for Funafuti’s population in 2019, if we assume an annual growth rate of 3% (as was observed between 2012 and 2017), we can estimate it at 6,705 persons. This would represent a per capita daily waste generation of 0.43 kg.

Tuvalu’s current rate of per capita waste generation is well below both the global average (0.74 kg/person/day, according to the 2018 World Bank report What a Waste: A Global Review of Solid Waste Management. The rate of MSW generation is problematic for Tuvalu due to the nation’s limited availability of land for waste disposal, and limited capacity for processing or recycling waste in-country. Tuvalu is seeking to reduce rates of waste generation and improve waste management through implementing the priority actions defined by the Tuvalu Integrated Waste Policy and Action Plan, including:

strengthening law enforcement to reduce the prevalence of illegal dumping and burning of waste
banning the import of single-use plastics such as small water bottles and plastic cutlery
public awareness programmes that focus on “reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover”
diverting waste from landfill through operating the recycling centre.

Acknowledgements

The Tuvalu State of Environment Report 2022 was led and developed by the Government of Tuvalu through the Department of Environment and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). Financial and coordination support was provided by GEF, UNEP and SPREP.

Web design and development by Aeski & Eighty Options Pty Ltd

Tuvalu

State of Environment Report 2022