The Kingdom of Tonga has received grant funding from the Global Climate Fund (GCF) to fight the impact of extreme climate events. Tonga was supported in this initiative by the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH), and successive Climate Finance Advisers contributed to the project document that secured these vital funds.
The GCF approved a US$22.66 million grant at its 39th Board meeting, held from 15 to 18 July 2024, in Songdo, Republic of Korea. The Government of Tonga committed US$1.2 million to co-finance the fund, with the UNDP adding a further US$63,000 to bring the total close to US$24 million.
The CCFAH advisers have been embedded within the Ministry for Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) in Tonga, and have provided strategic and technical guidance on mobilising climate finance.
Ms Luisa Tuiafitu Malolo, Tonga's Director of Climate Change, stated:
"The approval of the Tonga Coastal Resilience project proposal is indeed a milestone and a significant step forward in responding to the priorities of Tonga for building the Island Kingdom's resilience to climate change by addressing climate risks and reducing coastal vulnerability.
"We gratefully acknowledge the support provided by the Commonwealth Secretariat, through the Commonwealth Finance Access Hub, towards the development of this important project and we look forward to continuing our partnership."
Working together delivered success
Dr Othniel Yila recently wound down his mission as the CCFAH's Climate Finance Adviser to Tonga. However, he is not surprised that the important collaboration yielded positive results. Dr Yila said:
"This project holds immense potential to protect coastal communities, preserve critical ecosystems, and safeguard livelihoods in a changing climate.
"Furthermore, the Department of Climate Change team's collective expertise, dedication, and collaboration have been pivotal in achieving this milestone. The team’s unwavering commitment to advancing climate resilience in Tonga is genuinely inspiring. It reflects a deep sense of responsibility towards the wellbeing of the country and to the loving and warm people of Tonga."
Yila, and his predecessor, Martin Barriteau, worked with Tonga’s Joint National Action Plan for Climate Change (JNAP) taskforce to provide technical expertise to the team as they navigated several proposal rounds, starting in April 2017, with the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
Martin Barriteau added:
"It has been a roller-coaster ride since 2017. I remember, during COVID, working remotely from the Caribbean until midnight with colleagues and the UNDP contractor on revising the full proposal and feasibility study.
“When I arrived in Tonga, I realised that any sharp rise in sea levels could be devastating to Nuku’alofa. This realisation made me understand why this project is so vital in the fight for climate justice."
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The Tonga Coastal Resilience Project
The Global Climate Fund financing will be used to support the development of a revised national land use strategy that incorporates long-term climate risks and impacts. The Coastal Resilience Project will come into effect in 2025.
Tonga will establish a national community dialogue platform to enable island-wide discussions and agreements on issues and concerns regarding land use so that they can develop long-term adaptation strategies, including voluntary retreats.
The financing strengthens local capacity for effective monitoring of climate risks and community adaptation planning through a data monitoring system for climate risk and bolsters training for national authorities to monitor and use climate risk data. The funds will also be used to build the capacity of local actors to integrate climate risks and adaptation needs into the design of climate risk-focused community development plans.
About the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub
Media contact
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Suné Kitshoff Senior Communications Officer, Communications Division, Commonwealth Secretariat
