Climate Change Resilience
20 November 2013, UNFCCC, Warsaw Poland - Over a three year period Tonga has carried out more than 60% of climate change and disaster risk management activities they have committed to under a national action plan.
In 2010 the Island Kingdom endorsed their Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Joint National Action Plan (JNAP), a five year plan, since then progress in carrying out this plan has been swift.
Climate change has been included under Goal 7 of the Tonga Strategic Development Framework, funds were committed to establish a climate change division of four staff within the Ministry of Lands, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources. The office will also launch their own website at the end of this year containing a portal of information on all things related to climate change and environment in Tonga.
Several major adaptation projects are currently underway for Tonga, led by this division.
Six communities on the Eastern side of Tongatapu will be the centre of a feasibility study, coastal design and costing for the most appropriate adaptation options to help these communities adapt to climate change.
Some of the communities on the northern island of Tonga are adversely affected by heavy rains and soil erosion hence affecting the nearby coastal and marine environment will also be the focus of adaptation work .
Ms. Luisa Tuiafitu Malolo with delegates from Tonga and Kiribati
"We've been working with partners and donors to undertake a number of different projects, in all areas we will work together with partners and avoid duplication of work wherever possible," said Ms Luisa Tuiafitu Malolo, the Deputy Director for Climate Change at Ministry of Lands, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources in Tonga.
"We also make sure that we'll have consultations with stakeholder along the way. We are getting there, we have commitment from donors to support us in our work for which we are grateful."
Other Government ministries within Tonga are also incorporating climate change and disaster risk management into their policy and planning. A national forestry policy has incorporated climate change and disaster risk management and work is underway with the Ministry of Education and Training to integrate climate change and disaster risk management into the school syllabus.
The office is also building synergies with stakeholders such as the civil society, private sector and donors in Tonga, this has led to a bimonthly meeting of all interested parties to allow for an update to avoid duplication of work and to learn from each other.
"We will also be launching the Tonga small grants fund next year, this will be open to communities and civil society, people that would like to carry out climate change projects in their community will be able to apply for this. We really look forward to being able to launch it next year," said Ms Malolo.
Tonga has a delegation of six at the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Warsaw, Poland. The key issues for Tonga at this event are Adaptation, Loss and Damage and Finance.
The UNFCCC COP 19 is held from 11 - 22 November, 2013
In 2010 the Island Kingdom endorsed their Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Joint National Action Plan (JNAP), a five year plan, since then progress in carrying out this plan has been swift.
Climate change has been included under Goal 7 of the Tonga Strategic Development Framework, funds were committed to establish a climate change division of four staff within the Ministry of Lands, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources. The office will also launch their own website at the end of this year containing a portal of information on all things related to climate change and environment in Tonga.
Several major adaptation projects are currently underway for Tonga, led by this division.
Six communities on the Eastern side of Tongatapu will be the centre of a feasibility study, coastal design and costing for the most appropriate adaptation options to help these communities adapt to climate change.
Some of the communities on the northern island of Tonga are adversely affected by heavy rains and soil erosion hence affecting the nearby coastal and marine environment will also be the focus of adaptation work .
Ms. Luisa Tuiafitu Malolo with delegates from Tonga and Kiribati"We've been working with partners and donors to undertake a number of different projects, in all areas we will work together with partners and avoid duplication of work wherever possible," said Ms Luisa Tuiafitu Malolo, the Deputy Director for Climate Change at Ministry of Lands, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources in Tonga.
"We also make sure that we'll have consultations with stakeholder along the way. We are getting there, we have commitment from donors to support us in our work for which we are grateful."
Other Government ministries within Tonga are also incorporating climate change and disaster risk management into their policy and planning. A national forestry policy has incorporated climate change and disaster risk management and work is underway with the Ministry of Education and Training to integrate climate change and disaster risk management into the school syllabus.
The office is also building synergies with stakeholders such as the civil society, private sector and donors in Tonga, this has led to a bimonthly meeting of all interested parties to allow for an update to avoid duplication of work and to learn from each other.
"We will also be launching the Tonga small grants fund next year, this will be open to communities and civil society, people that would like to carry out climate change projects in their community will be able to apply for this. We really look forward to being able to launch it next year," said Ms Malolo.
Tonga has a delegation of six at the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Warsaw, Poland. The key issues for Tonga at this event are Adaptation, Loss and Damage and Finance.
The UNFCCC COP 19 is held from 11 - 22 November, 2013