Deputy Head of the European Union in the Pacific, Nereo Penalver Garcia, recently toured the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project (TCAP) in Funafuti to see first-hand how coastal adaptation is being translated into physical protection for one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable island nations.
Accompanied by the UNDP team, Mr Garcia visited the completed land reclamation area and ongoing coastal works, where HALL representatives and UNDP engineers briefed him on the engineering approach, progress to date and the scale of the works.
"The visit provided an opportunity to see how TCAP is creating safer, more resilient land while strengthening Tuvalu’s ability to respond to sea-level rise and coastal hazards," UNDP said.
Walking along the newly formed coastline, the delegation saw what these investments mean for communities living on the narrow atoll of Funafuti.
"The visit also provided space for discussion on the wider challenge facing Pacific Small Island Developing States: Climate adaptation is not simply about protecting infrastructure; it is about protecting the land that gives communities a sense of belonging, sustains livelihoods, and carries Tuvalu’s future," UNDP concluded.