Climate Change

Hon. Hu'akavameiluku delivered the statement of Tonga

13 11 2024

Kingdom of Tonga Calls for Immediate Global Climate Action at COP29

Baku, Azerbaijan – November 13, 2024

The Honorable Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku of the Kingdom of Tonga delivered a powerful statement today at the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Baku, Azerbaijan. Representing the Pacific Island nations, Tonga made an urgent appeal for global cooperation and immediate action to address the escalating climate crisis.

Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku highlighted the pressing threats Pacific Island nations, including Tonga, face due to climate change. “Climate change has been, is, and will continue to be the most existential threat to Pacific Island nations,” he stated, emphasizing the rapid rise in sea levels at an alarming rate of 7.3mm per year in Tonga—significantly above the global average. This sea-level rise has led to severe coastal erosion, frequent flooding, and extensive infrastructure damage. Additionally, the incursion of saltwater has compromised groundwater quality, and rising ocean temperatures have caused widespread coral bleaching, further impacting Tonga’s marine biodiversity.

Tonga reiterated its support for accelerated climate action, including a reduction in global coal use and the elimination of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. The Prime Minister also underscored Tonga’s unwavering commitment to climate action, despite the country’s negligible contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions.

The Kingdom of Tonga, as the chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, reiterated its call for timely and adequate access to climate finance for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). This includes the longstanding commitment from developed countries to mobilize $100 billion annually. Tonga also applauded the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund at COP27, stressing the need for swift operationalization.

The Prime Minister also called for innovative partnerships, citing Tonga’s involvement as a pilot country in the ‘Save the Children’ initiative. He highlighted Tonga’s endorsement of the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) and the Tonga Climate Fund, designed to expedite Tonga’s climate resilience goals under its “Resilient Tonga by 2035” vision.

In closing, Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku expressed Tonga’s full support for Australia’s bid to host COP31 as the “Pacific COP,” representing the voice and interests of Pacific Island nations. He urged all nations to commit to their responsibilities, voicing a shared hope for collaborative efforts and actionable outcomes from COP29.

Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon. Hu'akavameiliku and Hon.Fekita 'Utoikamanu the Minister for MEIDECC. — Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon. Hu’akavameiliku and Hon.Fekita ‘Utoikamanu the Minister for MEIDECC

13 11 2024

Leaders’ Summit of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on Climate Change: Pacific Islands Forum Chair’s Opening Address Highlights Urgent Climate Actions

Baku, Azerbaijan – November 13, 2024

At today’s Leaders’ Summit of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on Climate Change, held during COP29 and initiated by the Republic of Azerbaijan as the COP29 Presidency, Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum delivered a statement on behalf of the Forum. This speech highlighted the climate-related existential threats faced by the Pacific region and underscored the urgent need for unified, meaningful action on the global stage.

In his address, Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku expressed his deep gratitude for Azerbaijan’s hospitality and commended the COP29 President, H.E. Mukhtar Babayev for his leadership. The Prime Minister emphasized the acute climate vulnerabilities facing the Pacific SIDS, where rising sea levels and extreme weather events threaten lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems.

“As the UN Secretary-General has so aptly stated, ‘We are in the final countdown to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and time is not on our side,’” said the Prime Minister. He referenced Pacific SIDS’ ongoing initiatives, including the 2023 Declaration on the Continuity of Statehood and Protection of Persons amidst sea-level rise and the 2021 Pacific Regional Framework on Preserving Maritime Zones, which emphasize resilience and state sovereignty in the face of climate impacts. The Chair recognized the work that have been to put forth into the developed and endorsed of the Pacific Regional Framework on Climate Mobility and introduced Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific which address both climate change resilience and disaster risk.

Representing 18 member countries, the Pacific Islands Forum Chair called for unity among SIDS and reiterated the Forum’s commitment to ambitious climate goals. He urged COP29 delegates to ensure that the New Collective Goal for climate finance priorities and Nationally Determined Contributions focus on limiting global temperature rise to within 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The Chair also recognized the contributions of key SIDS leadership from nations such as Antigua and Barbuda for their leadership in the 10 year programme of Action for SIDS, the ABAS, Samoa as Chair of AOSIS, Vanuatu as Chair of Pacific SIDS, and Grenada as Chair of Caricom Community, who continue to advocate for SIDS’ climate agendas through regional and global platforms.

The Pacific Islands Forum stands ready to support COP29 in achieving outcomes that address the unique climate challenges faced by SIDS. This high-level event; Leader’s summit of the Small Island Developing States on Climate Change convened as part of COP29 in Baku, is a pivotal opportunity to align global action with the urgent needs of small island nations.

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13 11 2024

Tonga Reinforces Commitment to Early Warning Systems at High-Level United Nations Secretary General

Wednesday, 13 November 2024 – Baku, Azerbaijan

Tonga’s Minister for MEIDECC, Hon. Fekitamoeloa ‘Utoikamanu, delivered a compelling address at the “Early Warnings for All” high-level event hosted by the United Nations Secretary-General. Highlighting Tonga’s heightened vulnerability to natural disasters, Hon. ‘Utoikamanu underscored the critical need for robust disaster preparedness and resilience-building initiatives.

Tonga has faced severe natural disasters in recent years, including two Category 5 cyclones and the devastating Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunami in 2022. These events have inflicted significant economic damage, emphasizing the urgent necessity for improved disaster response and infrastructure.

Since the launch of the Secretary General’s Early Warning for All initiative in Sharm El Sheikh, Tonga has been among the first 30 countries to commit fully to this life-saving program. The introduction of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) has significantly enhanced Tonga’s capabilities to monitor and respond to natural hazards. Supported by strong disaster risk management (DRM) legislation, these systems provide timely and actionable warnings, facilitate regional data sharing, and ensure resource allocation for effective disaster response. The investment in MHEWS not only saves lives and protects infrastructure but also mitigates the high costs associated with emergency response and recovery.

In August this year, Tonga commissioned its first-ever mobile phone community early warning and response application during the 53rd Pacific Leaders Meeting. This innovative tool, developed through the Climate Risk Early Warning System (CREWS) financing facility and in partnership with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Program (SPREP), enables two-way communication between disaster management agencies and remote communities, thus strengthening Tonga’s early warning systems.

Tonga is also actively reviewing its meteorological legal and regulatory frameworks to enhance its capability for delivering people-centered, end-to-end multi-hazard early warning systems. Additionally, the government is operationalizing the Multi-Hazard Early Warning Policy established in May of the previous year.

In July, with the assistance of the World Meteorological Organization, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, and other partners, Tonga completed nationwide consultations for the Early Warnings for All roadmap. During the same Pacific Leaders Meeting, the Secretary-General commissioned Tonga’s first Weather Radar, marking a significant milestone under the Weather Ready Pacific Program.

The Weather Ready Pacific Program, a decade-long Pacific-owned and led initiative, aims to address extreme weather events in the region by improving monitoring, forecasts, warnings, communications, service delivery, and capacity building in Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Hon. ‘Utoikamanu expressed deep gratitude for the initial funding support from the Governments of Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom and urged continued investment in this critical program.

In her closing remarks, Hon. ‘Utoikamanu emphasized the importance of addressing the early warning needs for heatwaves, particularly marine heatwaves, which increasingly impact the tropical Pacific.