Another youth-led talanoa event to commemorate Tonga’s ratification of the Paris Agreement

Figure 1: Banner of the youth event, Talanga mo e To’utupu: Youth Climate Change Talanoa.

23rd September, 2022 The Department of Climate Change hosted its second youth-led dialogue event ‘Talanga mo e To’utupu: Youth Climate Change Talanoa’, on the 21^st September, the fourth day of the annual National Climate Change Awareness Week for 2022 with the theme of “Building a Resilient Tonga” or “Tākanga ‘etau fohe ki ha Tonga tu’uloa”. This event coincides with the six-year anniversary of Tonga’s ratification of the Paris Agreement on the 21^st of September 2016.

This talanga event proceeded in two-panel sessions. The first panel consisted of five youth representatives from the Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC), Mainstreaming of Rural Development Innovation (MORDI) Tonga, The Pacific Community’s Pacific Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (PCREEE), Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga Youth Climate Change Committee and the Tonga Youth Employment & Entrepreneurship (TYEE).

The youth panelists firstly shared current climate actions that they are currently involved in and their perspectives on the significance of youth’s involvement in climate actions. The youth panelists ended the first panel with powerful messages for the leaders and stakeholders on how to ensure meaningful youth participation in national and local climate actions.

Youth panelists agreed on the importance of genuine youth-led initiatives, and participation in policy processes and decision-making. Ms. Madeleine Lavemai representing PISFCC stated, “it is pretty evident here the achievements of not just PISFCC but also the youth-led organizations here that young people are solidifying their place as leaders of their own future… we have young people with the potential to be policy-makers, to advocate far great than at the grassroots level and to implement change in various sectors of Tonga.”

The last panel comprised of senior officials from the  Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Australian High Commission to Tonga, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests (MAFF), Department of Energy, Tonga Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and the Civil Society Forum of Tonga (CSFT).

The diverse group of representatives in this panel brought a wealth of knowledge and information from the experiences and perspectives of donors, development partners, government, civil society, and the private sector.

Mr. Paula Ma’u, CEO for MEIDECC emphasized in his welcoming remarks that the Paris Agreement is more than an environmental agreement stating, “it should also be looks at, as one of the most profound tools to defend the quality of life for todays’ youth…not only intended for the benefit of current generations but it is also for those in the future to come.” Mr. Ma’u also elaborated on how this event built from the first National Youth Climate Change Talanoa last year and hopefully more youth talanoa events will take place in the future.

The High Commissioner for the United Kingdom to Tonga, Her Excellency Lucy Joyce in her keynote address commended the event for the engagement in Tonga particularly with young people and the clear goals and targets in Tonga’s Second Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). Her Excellency gave recognition of the importance of the NDC as the “heart of the Paris Agreement”. In closing Her Excellency stated, “if we are really to tackle the issue of climate change, today and in the future, we need the youth of today. The youth of Tonga and the world to take action and encourage others to take action, to hold us to account.”

The talanga event was attended by youth representatives from tertiary and vocational institutions, youth groups as well as organizations represented by the panelists and working partners of the Department of Climate Change.

Figure 2: Youth panelists (left-right:) Ms. Madelene Lavemai (PISFCC), Ms. Crystal ‘Ake (MORDI Tonga), Mr. Sione Misi (SPC’s PCREEE), Ms. ‘Asinate Lilo (FWC Youth Climate Change Committee), Ms. ‘Anaseini Iotebatu (TYEE)

The last panel comprised of senior officials from the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Australian High Commission to Tonga, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests (MAFF), Department of Energy, Tonga Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and the Civil Society Forum of Tonga (CSFT).

The diverse group of representatives in this panel brought a wealth of knowledge and information from the experiences and perspectives of donors, development partners, government, civil society, and the private sector

Figure 3: Senior officials panelists from left-right: Ms. Ella Scott the Second Secretary and Vice Consul from the Australian High Commission, Dr. Viliami Manu the CEO for MAFF and Ms. ‘Emele Latu the Capacity Development Officer representing CSFT.

Figure 4: Representatives in the senior officials’ panel from left-right: Mr. Frank Rejisberman the Director General for GGGI, Ms. Carrie Vaea (Tonga Chamber of Commerce & Industry), and Dr. Kakau Foliaki the Director for the Department of Energy, MEIDECC.

Mr. Paula Ma’u, CEO for MEIDECC emphasized in his welcoming remarks that the Paris Agreement is more than an environmental agreement stating, “it should also be looks at, as one of the most profound tools to defend the quality of life for todays’ youth…not only intended for the benefit of current generations but it is also for those in the future to come.” Mr. Ma’u also elaborated on how this event built from the first National Youth Climate Change Talanoa last year and hopefully more youth talanoa events will take place in the future.

The High Commissioner for the United Kingdom to Tonga, Her Excellency Lucy Joyce in her keynote address commended the event for the engagement in Tonga particularly with young people and the clear goals and targets in Tonga’s Second Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). Her Excellency gave recognition of the importance of the NDC as the “heart of the Paris Agreement”. In closing Her Excellency stated, “if we are really to tackle the issue of climate change, today and in the future, we need the youth of today. The youth of Tonga and the world to take action and encourage others to take action, to hold us to account.”

Figure 5: The High Commissioner for the United Kingdom of Tonga, Her Excellency, Lucy Joyce delivering her keynote address.

Figure 7: Her Excellency Lucy Joyce presenting gifts & certificate to panelist Mr. Kakau Foliaki

The talanga event was attended by youth representatives from tertiary and vocational institutions, youth groups as well as organizations represented by the panelists and working partners of the Department of Climate Change.

Figure 8: Participants present at the talanga event.

Figure 9: Panelists and participants attending the event.

Figure 10: Banner for youth panelists sharing on climate actions in Tonga.

Figure 11: Banner for senior officials panelists sharing on climate actions in Tonga.