Tonga on track to complete another commitment to the Paris Agreement

CEO of the Ministry of MEIDECC, Mr. Paula Maú (seated, centre) with the workshop participants.

Tuesday 12^th October 2021

The Department of Climate Change hosted a half-day workshop at the Faónelua Convention Centre for national stakeholders to validate the draft Tonga Long-term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) which in addition to Tonga’s Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) are some of Tonga’s commitments to the renowned Paris Agreement.

In collaboration with its working partners ClimateWorks Australia, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Relative Creative, the Department of Climate Change provided stakeholders from government ministries and agencies, non-government organizations and companies under the private sector, with an overview of the draft LT-LEDS document. With a vison of ‘A low emissions Tonga, where all sectors work together to create resilience, autonomy and self-reliance’, Tonga’s LT-LEDS serves multiple purposes for Tonga.

Firstly, the LT-LEDS will fulfill Tonga’s commitments to the Paris Agreement as Article 4, paragraph 19 of the agreement invited parties to formulate and communicate ‘mid-century’ long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies. Secondly, Tonga’s LT-LEDS support and complement existing planning and policy processes in Tonga, towards improved socio-economic outcomes in line with Tonga’s national priorities. Moreover, the LT-LEDS can provide a framework for integrated and strategic investment and development aid coordination towards the building of a resilient Tonga.

The Tonga LT-LEDS takes into account Tonga’s national circumstances, the urgent need for global climate actions and Tonga’s commitments, plan and priorities in the Tonga Strategic Development Framework, Tonga’s Second NDC, Climate Change Policy and Joint National Action Plan 2 on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management. The LT-LEDS vision is supported by sub-visions and pathways for the sectors of Energy; Transport; Agriculture; Forestry & Other Land Use; Waste and Urban.

The validation workshop is the final phase in the development of the LT-LEDS document before it is submitted to Tonga’s Cabinet for endorsement. It is envisaged that the Tonga LT-LEDS will be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat in November this year with a national launch at a date yet to be confirmed.

This project is financially supported by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Some of the participants during the workshop.

Mr. Sione Taumoefolau (Director General of the Tonga Red Cross Society) asking a question during the Q&A session in the workshop.

Some of the workshop participants.