Tokelau, a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand comprising three low-lying coral atolls—Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo—is among the most climate-vulnerable places in the world. With elevations barely above sea level, Tokelau faces existential threats from sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and saltwater intrusion, which severely impact freshwater access, food production, and infrastructure. The country is also exposed to tropical cyclones and prolonged droughts, which disrupt livelihoods and strain limited resources.

To address these challenges, Tokelau continues to implement the Living with Change (LivC) Strategy 2017–2030, its integrated national framework for climate resilience. This is complemented by the Tokelau Disaster Risk Reduction, Response and Resilience Plan (TDR4), which outlines actions to strengthen local capacity and reduce vulnerability to climate and disaster risks.

Tokelau’s digital infrastructure has undergone a major transformation with the successful landing of the Southern Cross NEXT (SXN) submarine cable in Nukunonu, completed in 2022. This marks Tokelau’s first high-speed international internet connection, co-funded by the Government of New Zealand and Tokelau. To ensure robust inter-atoll connectivity, the national telecom provider Teletok has deployed a domestic submarine cable system linking Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo. This includes modular cable landing stations with integrated power and cooling systems, designed to withstand the harsh marine environment.
As of early 2025, Tokelau had 1,068 mobile connections (41.7% of the population) and 600 internet users, representing 23.4% online penetration. These upgrades are enabling the rollout of e-Government, e-Health, e-Education, and e-Commerce services, helping overcome the challenges of geographic isolation.

National Disaster Management Lead: Tokelau Disaster Management Office