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Tuvalu, which consists of nine coral atoll islands, is widely dispersed over 1.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean stretching in a north-south direction over some 560 kilometres between latitudes 5 and 11 degrees south and over longitudes 176 and 180 degrees east. The total land area of the country is approximately 25.6 square kilometres, which is relatively evenly distributed across the nine atolls. The land is low lying with no point higher than four metres above sea level. Coastal erosion is a major problem for most islands of the group and, without proper control measures; the total land area of the country will be detrimentally affected.

Tuvalu's economy is small, fragmented and highly vulnerable to external economic influences. This has led to a heavy reliance on outside development assistance and has led to a degree of complacency in fiscal and financial management. The economy is unusual in that a substantial amount of both government revenues and private incomes are generated from overseas. For government, revenues come primarily from the income of the Tuvalu Trust Fund (TTF) (capital), the 'dotTV’ internet domain (asset) and from fishing license fees paid by foreign fishing vessels (natural resources). For families the income derives from remittances from overseas seamen (labour).

Tuvalu acceded to the United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa (UNCCD) in September 1998 because of its concern regarding degradation of its habitats and current predicted shortages of water connected with increasing population and the effects of climate change. As a Party to the UNCCD, Tuvalu is obliged to follow Section 9 and 10 of the Convention in preparing a National Action Plan.