Tonga

The Tonga Strategic Roadmap for Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) is a joint outcome of the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) and National Emergency stakeholders and supports the implementation of Tonga’s Strategic Development Framework 2015-2025, particularly the objectives relating to enhancing Tonga’s resilience to climate change and its associated risks. The Roadmap aims to enhance dialogue and facilitate coordinated action over Tonga’s DRM response, as well as to identify mechanisms for monitoring progress, and highlights six priority outcomes to implement over the next three years:“1: Tonga has fully functioning Emergency Operation Centres supported by an established emergency coordination and communications system.2: Tonga’s emergency and disaster risk management sector is more inclusive.3: Government Policy, planning, budget and procurement processes actively supports the mainstreaming of disaster risk management in Tonga.4: The Cluster System in Tonga is fully institutionalised and strengthened.5: Tonga has clear standards and guidelines for evacuation process management in Tonga with increased safety and security of Evacuation Centres.6: Tonga practices Participatory Village Emergency and Disaster Risk Management planning and implementation.”

This policy intends to make Tonga climate-resilient by 2035 and enhance mitigation efforts. It seeks to improve governance and participatory actions, and lists a number of specific targets, including: 1) every coastal community has a special management area and protected coastal environment, 2) Redesigned and resilient roads, coastal areas, buildings, and other infrastructure, 3) Resilient homes, schools, and community halls, 4) A transport system that is not reliant on fossil fuels, 5) 100 per cent renewable energy, and 6) 30 per cent of land in Tonga utilised for agro-forestry or forestry.

Tonga Strategic Development Framework 2015-2025 (TSDF II) : A more progressive Tonga: Enhancing Our Inheritance, presents the Kingdom's new development framework.&nbsp; The TSDF II is based on seven National Outcomes: 1) a more inclusive, sustainable and dynamic knowledge-based economy; 2) more inclusive, sustainable and balanced urban and rural development across island groups; 3) a more inclusive, sustainable and empowering human development with gender equality; 4) a more inclusive, sustainable and responsive good-governance with law and order; 5) a more inclusive, sustainable and successful provision and maintenance of infrastructure and technology; 6) a more inclusive, sustainable and effective land administration, environment management, and resilience to climate and risk; 7) a more inclusive, sustainable and consistent advancement of our external interests, security and sovereignty.

This Plan defines six objectives and a subsequent implementation strategy: 1) Improved good governance for climate change adaptation and disaster risk management (mainstreaming, decision making, organizational and institutional policy frameworks), 2) Improved good governance for climate change adaptation and disaster risk management (mainstreaming, decision making, organizational and institutional policy frameworks), 3) Analysis and assessments of vulnerability to climate change impacts and disaster risks, 4) Enhanced community preparedness and resilience to impacts of all disasters, 5) Technically reliable, economically affordable and environmentally sound energy to support the sustainable development of the Kingdom, and 6) strong partnerships, cooperation and collaboration within government agencies and with Civil Societies, Non Government Organisations and the Private Sectors.&nbsp; The development of this Joint Action Plan on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risks Management complies with Tonga's National Strategic Development Framework 2009-2014, the Pacific Islands Framework of Action on Climate Change 2006-2015, the Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Framework for Action 2005-2015, the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR), the Yokohama Plan for Action and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Has multiple references to climate change, carbon sequestration and carbon trading (including in the Policy Statement). However the Policy has not yet been incorporated into law. Tonga's existing Forests Act dates from 2005 and has no reference to climate change.

Provides that before preparing a plan, the Agency shall consult with and provide information to stakeholders on coastal low-lying areas, climate change or other hazards.

This Act establishes the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. It seeks to 1) coordinate the role of Government in relation to all environmental management, including climate change issues, and decision-making processes, 2) promote meaningful public involvement in relation to issues of environment management, including climate change, 3) ensure the observance within the Kingdom of its international obligations relating to the protection of the environment, 4) promote the concept of sustainable development in relation to the environment and natural resources of the Kingdom, 5) facilitate an assessment of the impacts on the environment of any activity likely to affect it, prior to a proposed activity taking place, and 6) promote the understanding, management, conservation and protection of the biological diversity of the Kingdom; and facilitate implementation of measures to increase the resilience of the Kingdom and its environment to climate change.

The Act further details the composition and duties of the Ministry.

This Act regulates the use of renewable energy. It seeks to promote renewable resources by 1) researching and developing opportunities of renewable energy in the Kingdom, 2) encouraging the use of commercially sustainable renewable energy technology for both grid connected and stand alone power supply systems, 3) regulating the technical and safety standards for renewable energy technologies, 4) regulating the licensing of persons involved in the design, research, installation and management of renewable energy projects, 5) regulating renewable energy operators, 6) regulating the feed-in tariffs for renewable energy generated electricity, and 7) supporting the engagement of the private sector in renewable energy projects in the country. The Act establishes the Renewable Energy Authority, empowered to regulate all matters relating to renewable energy. It also promotes 1) the implementation of commercially sustainable renewable energy electrification services by encouraging economically efficient investment in the use of and infrastructure to provide electrification services, and 2) access by people resident in the remote areas of the country to renewable energy services to the extent that it is reasonably and commercially practicable to provide such services.

Low Emission Development Strategy 2021-2050, Long-Term Low-Emission Development Strategy from Tonga in 2021

Tonga Second NDC, Nationally Determined Contribution from Tonga in 2020

Tonga. National Communication (NC). NC 3., National Communication from Tonga in 2020

Tonga National Adaptation Plan. NAP1

Tonga First NDC, Nationally Determined Contribution from Tonga in 2016

All coastal communities are protected by 2035

Reduce 10% of GHG emissions by 2015 against a 2000 baseline

30% of land used in forestry or agroforestry by 2035

50% of energy from renewable energy resources by 2013

Tonga

Documents

Targets (5)