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. LivC 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 has significantly transformed its telecommunications infrastructure with the 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.

With a population of over 2,600, 42 percent had accessed mobile connections and 23 percent had accessed the internet in early 2025. The improved connectivity enable the rollout of e-Government, e-Health, e-Education, and e-Commerce services. These digital services help overcome the challenges of geographic isolation.