18 March 2025, Nukualofa, Tonga - Working together, Tonga and partners took meaningful steps toward a sustainable future through protecting and leveraging nature as a key solution to environmental and economic challenges.
Government officials, environmental experts, and international partners gathered in Nuku’alofa for the Promoting Pacific Islands Nature-based Solutions (PPIN) Co-Design and Cost-Benefit Analysis Workshop on 6 March 2025.
Discussions centred around opportunities for strengthening Nature-based Solutions (NbS) through policy, cost benefit analysis and capacity building to address climate change, enhance resilience, and support sustainable development.
“For generations, our people have relied on the land and sea for their livelihoods. As we navigate the challenges of climate change, we must continue to integrate nature-based approaches that align with both our traditional knowledge and modern science,” said Ms. Atelaite Lupe Matoto, Director of Environment, Tonga.
The PPIN project, part of New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) “Resilient Ecosystems for Climate Change Adaptation” (RECCA) Activity, is a collaborative effort involving the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Pacific Community (SPC), and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
In collaboration with the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change, and Communications (MEIDECC), the PPIN project through SPREP and GGGI hosted the workshop.
It was the opportunity to introduce stakeholders to the PPIN project and its various components while identifying priority sectors where NbS could be integrated into national policies. Participants gained insights from SPC’s assessment of knowledge gaps and capacity needs for NbS, as well as from GGGI’s Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) of NbS initiatives in Tonga. Additionally, the workshop provided practical training on CBA methodologies, equipping stakeholders with the tools to assess the economic and environmental benefits of NbS investments.
“By the end of the workshop, participants had developed a clearer strategy for embedding NbS into national development frameworks, gained a deeper understanding of the financial and ecological advantages of these solutions, and strengthened their network of regional partners working toward climate resilience,” said Ms Utulei Lui, the PPIN Project Coordinator at SPREP.
“We’re really pleased to be part of this important work that will bring positive benefits for Tonga as we face the impacts of the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution. It is a significant step forward in strengthening policy frameworks and leveraging cost-benefit analysis of NbS interventions for informed decision-making.”
Across the workshop the participants took part in interactive discussions, case study presentations, and hands-on exercises to ensure that outcomes translated into actionable steps.
The PPIN Inception Workshop, a collaboration with the Tonga Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change, and Communications (MEIDECC), took place on 6 March in Nuku’alofa, Tonga.
The PPIN project is part of New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) “Resilient Ecosystems for Climate Change Adaptation” (RECCA) Activity and is a collaborative effort involving the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Pacific Community (SPC), and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
For further information please contact:
Utulei Lui utuleil@sprep.org (SPREP)
Nathalie Andre nathalie.andre@gggi.org (GGGI)
Rakeshni Lata rakeshnil@spc.int (SPC)
Vinay Singh vinay.singh@iucn.org (IUCN)