Memorandum of Understanding between

The Government of the Tuvalu represented by the Ministry of Transport, Energy, Communication

and

Innovation and the Government of Australia represented by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

The Governments of Tuvalu and Australia affirm the commitments we have made to advance global action on climate change, and we acknowledge the importance of climate and energy cooperation already underway between our countries, including through the commitments enshrined in the Australia - Tuvalu Falepili Union Treaty. We recognise the threat of sea level rise and disasters caused by climate change to Pacific livelihoods and security, and the imperative of transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a just, orderly and equitable manner.

This Memorandum of Understanding (the MoU) works alongside existing climate and energy cooperation between Tuvalu and Australia, by establishing the Tuvalu - Australia Renewable Energy Partnership (the Partnership), supported by the Australia - Pacific Partnership for Energy Transition (APPET).

Partnership Objectives

1. Under the Partnership, the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and the Tuvalu Ministry of Transport, Energy, Communication and Innovation (MTECI) (the Participants) will collaborate to provide practical support for the energy transition in line with Tuvalu's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.
2. The Partnership aims to strengthen Tuvalu's energy transition arrangements to help advance Tuvalu towards its goal of 100 per cent renewables, while contributing to energy reliability, security, and affordability.

Scope of Partnership Support

3. The Partnership will support practical activities to strengthen Tuvalu's planning, policy, and technical arrangements relevant to increasing renewable energy in Tuvalu's energy system and ensuring energy system stability and reliability.
4. All activities under the Partnership will be mutually determined between the Participants prior to commencement or funding of the activities.
5. The initial and immediate focus of the Partnership will be to collaborate on the development of a national renewable energy masterplan for Tuvalu. The masterplan will support the Government of Tuvalu to identify the necessary activities, sequencing and technical requirements required to make meaningful progress toward Tuvalu's renewable energy targets. This will better enable the Government of Tuvalu to engage with the private sector and donor partners in support of its orderly energy transition.
6. Following establishment of a renewable energy masterplan, the Participants will work together to identify further focus areas for the Partnership. This will include support to implement the renewable energy masterplan, and other areas of support as mutually determined by the Participants and in line with the scope of the APPET program.
7. Future activities under the Partnership will be mutually determined and delivered in consultation between the Participants.

Governance and Oversight

8. DCCEEW will be the Australian Government agency responsible for delivery and implementation of the Partnership, including funding for Partnership activities.
9. Activities supported through the Partnership will be identified and progressed via engagement between DCCEEW and MTECI, supported by the Australian High Commission in Funafuti.
10. Cooperation and engagement will be responsive to Tuvalu's circumstances and perspectives, including already identified energy transition priorities for Tuvalu.
11. MTECI will be responsible for coordinating Tuvalu's engagement and cooperation under the Partnership, and this may include support under the Partnership to ensure meaningful engagement.
12. Both Participants will be responsible for ongoing engagement and cooperation to deliver practical outcomes that align with the scope and objectives of the Partnership.
13. Any difference arising out of the interpretation or implementation of the provisions of this Memorandum of Understanding will be resolved amicably between the Participants, and will not be referred to any national or international tribunal or third party for settlement.
14. Each Participant may end cooperation under this Memorandum of Understanding at any time. They should inform the other Participant in writing of its intention to end cooperation at least six months prior.
15. This Memorandum of Understanding is not intended to and does not create any legally binding rights or obligations.

Signed at Parliament House, Canberra on 29 July 2025