Tokelau’s Ministry of Climate, Oceans and Resilience (MiCORE) asked the Climate Finance Capacity Support Programme (CFCSP) to complete a mid-term review of Tokelau’s national climate change strategy, the Living with Change (LivC) Strategy 2017-2030.
The review aimed to help MiCORE understand how Tokelauans have experienced activities delivered under the LivC over the last few years, what is working well, what needs to change, and what they would like to see happen over the final years of its implementation.
MiCORE Director Paula Faiva said the review would guide future action.
“The outcome of the review will help target Tokelau’s key priorities for responding to climate change, and where the communities want Tokelau to focus its efforts over the next few years,” she said.
The CFCSP funded a team comprising Climate Change Specialist Shirley McGill, a Pacific Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist Evelyn Marsters, and Research and Cultural Assistant Kema Perez. MiCORE representative Iuta Isaako also joined the team.
In July 2025, consultations were held across Tokelau’s 3 atolls to capture people’s experiences of climate change and their views on how to build resilience.
“We received wonderful hospitality and engagement from the Taupulega (village council), Aumunga (men’s group) and Fatupaepae (women’s group) in each atoll as well as several individuals that spoke to us. They offered a stark picture of the challenges they’re facing with climate change, but also a range of practical solutions and a strong desire to see more climate action happening,” Shirley said.
Communities across all 3 atolls described their experiences of the climate and weather patterns changing on the atolls. Temperatures are increasing, wind patterns are shifting, fruit is ripening at different times, the seas are eroding land. Fishers must travel further out to sea and traditional environmental indicators are breaking down. People are noticing and adapting to these changes.
Insights from the consultations will help MiCORE assess whether the LivC Strategy is still well-targeted and aligned with Tokelau’s priorities for climate action.
Paula underlined the importance of this work:
We want to be climate-resilient and a weather-ready nation. It’s crucial for our communities, our ecosystems, our economy and, most importantly, our people, to be healthy and resilient so we are better prepared, equipped and ready to adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change
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Feature image (from left to right): Shirley McGill (CFCSP), Iuta Isaako (MiCORE representative), Evelyn Marsters (CFCSP), Geoff Anderson (Egis, Jen Johnstone (Habitat for Humanity New Zealand) and Kema Perez (CFCSP) in Fakaofo, Tokelau