On Tuesday, 16 July, 2024, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board has approved a US$23.92 million for the Tonga’s Coastal Resilience Project of which US$22.66 is GCF Grant and supplemented by US$1.2 million co-financing from the Government of Tonga and US$63,000 from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Hon. Fekitamoeloa ‘Utoikamanu, Minister for Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) stated that this project marks a significant milestone in addressing climate impacts in Tonga which builds upon Tonga’s Joint National Action Plan 2 on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management (JNAP2) 2018-2028 and the Tonga Strategic Development Framework (TDSF) II, 2015–2025.

The objective of the Project is to build long term resilience of vulnerable coastal communities to the impacts of climate change in Tonga through supporting climate risk informed of long-term adaptation planning & decision making, supporting assessment and monitoring of climate risk data and information as well as promoting resilient and transformative adaptation actions.

The three major outputs of the project include (i) strengthening knowledge, capacity and engagement for incorporating climate risks into long-term adaptation planning supported through multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder engagement and dialogue platform (ii) strengthening national and local capacities for effective monitoring and assessment of climate risks and (iii) reducing vulnerabilities of coastal communities in the Eastern Tongatapu to the adverse impacts of climate change through coastal protection measures.

Hon. ‘Utoikamanu adds by saying “I have no doubt that this project will tangibly enhance the Government of Tonga’s efforts towards preparing & implementing short, medium and long-term strategies & actions to protect communities from sea level rise and climate related disasters while pursuing solutions which integrate science, resilient infrastructure and extensive community consultation for addressing coastal vulnerabilities and enhancing resilience in this country.

The project will be implemented in pilot communities in the Eastern Tongatapu (Nukuleka- Kolonga) and it aims to directly benefit over 3,600 local citizens.
This project will adopt revetment design & complement the earlier construction work under the ADB-Climate Resilient Sector Project (CRSP) which was completed in 2019.
Duration of the Project is seven (7) years. Project will be implemented in Tonga by the Department of Climate Change under the Ministry MEIDECC, with the support of the UNDP.
Hon. Minister for MEIDECC gratefully acknowledge the support from GCF and UNDP in securing this fund for enhancing resilience of these vulnerable communities and Tonga to the climate change impacts.
She concludes that we look forward to work closely with communities, national stakeholders, donors and partners to implement this transformative project in Tonga.

ENDS
About the Department of Climate Change (DCC)
The DCC under MEIDECC strives to put an effective system in place for climate change mitigation, adaptation and phasing out of ozone depleting substances. The Department follows the Climate Change Policy, Joint National Action Plan on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management that align to the Tonga Strategic Development Framework together with the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific and International obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Vienna Convention for the protection of the Ozone Layer.

Contact
Ms. Haunani Ngata
Communications & Information Division
Ministry of Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Communication, and Climate Change
Department of Climate Change
+67626514
haunani.ngata@gmail.com

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