National Climate Change Awareness Week Continues at Ha’apai

23rd July, 2019 The Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Risk Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communication (MEIDECC) continued with its national awareness activities at Ha’apai. The mission is to “Increase Climate Action to Save Tonga”.

A team of nine officers from the Department of Climate Change in Nuku’alofa is in Ha’apai to conduct the awareness activities, in partnership with staff at MEIDECC Ha’apai, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (MAFF), as well as the town and district officers.

The awareness week began with field visits to local communities where the planting of both fruit and ornamental trees took place at various sites in the villages of Hihifo at the Fofo’anga Hall, Koulo at the Free Weslyan Church Hall, Fotua at the Fakafeta’i ‘Eiki Hall and Fangale’ounga at the Kakapa Atu Tekina ‘i Moana Hall.

Mrs. Kaufusi Vunga, one of the community members of Hihifo village, shared “Here in our community, we women, have plants inspection every week, so therefore we are glad to have more plants because we are active in planting trees to save our community from the impacts caused by climate change”. She also added that some of the impacts faced by their community include sea level rising and soil erosion.

Not only is the Department trying to inform and educate these communities of the importance of planting trees, but to ensure that there is a partnership with the communities in taking action against the negative effects of climate change felt in Tonga.

Reverend Dr. Tevita Tonga Mohenoa Puloka, the Governor of Ha’apai composed a sonata to mark the beginning of the National Climate Change Awareness program with planting a “langakali” naming it “LANGAKALI KO ‘OFA-MANATU”. “This langakali will tell the story of my love to the people of the Fo’i’one’one”, he said.

The Department of Climate Change and MEIDECC Ha’apai are looking forward to conducting similar awareness activities tomorrow at the local high schools and primary schools.

ENDS

Issued by the: Department of Climate Change (MEIDECC)