This week marks Energy Awareness Week, under the theme “Building a Sustainable Energy Future for Tonga.” The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister for MEIDECC, was pleased to help mark this important occasion.

In light of current global developments impacting energy supply across the region and beyond, this week holds particular significance for Tonga as we continue to strengthen our resilience and long-term energy security.

In his keynote address, Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua issued a strong call to action: “Today, I issue a call to action and call on government agencies to accelerate policy implementation and coordination; development partners to scale up climate finance and technical support; private sector investors to seize opportunities in renewable energy and innovation; and communities and citizens to embrace energy efficiency and clean technologies.”

The Government of Tonga acknowledges and expresses its sincere gratitude to its partners for their ongoing support and collaboration, including the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Government of Ireland (Irish Aid) through the Low Emissions Climate Resilient Development (LECRD) Programme implemented by the Green Global Growth Institute (GGGI); the Pacific Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (PCREEE) under SPC; the Small Island Developing States Dock (SIDS DOCK); the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres (GN-SEC); The Seabased Company; and UNEP through its Technology Assessment Project.

Together, these partnerships continue to play a vital role in supporting Tonga’s transition towards a more sustainable, secure, and resilient energy future.

ʻOku fakaʻilongaʻi ʻi he uike ni ʻa e Uike Tokangaekina ‘o e ‘Mau’anga Ivi, ʻi he kaveinga ko e ” Langa ha kaha’u tu’uloa ma’a e ma’u’anga ivi ma’a Tonga.” Naʻe fiefia ʻa e ʻEiki Palemia mo e Minisita ki he Potungaue MEIDECC ke me’a ai ʻi hono fakaʻilongaʻi ʻo e uike mahuʻinga ni.

ʻOku mahuʻinga makehe ʻa e uike ni ki Tonga ʻi heʻetau hokohoko atu hono fakamalohia ʻetau tuʻuaki ‘a e malu mo e ma’u’anga ivi ki ha taimi loloa.

ʻI heʻene me’a, naʻe ui ‘a e ‘Eiki Palemia, Lord Fakafanua ke ngaue: “ʻI he ʻaho ni, ʻoku ou kolea ki he ngaahi kautaha fakapuleʻanga ke fakavaveʻi ʻa e fakahoko mo e fakafekauʻaki ʻo e ngaahi tuʻutuʻuni; ki he ngaahi hoa fakalakalaka ke fakalahi ʻa e tokoni fakapaʻanga ki he tu’unga ‘o e ʻea mo e tokoni fakatekinikale; ki he sekitoa taautaha ke nau puke ‘a e ngaahi fiangamalie ki he ngaahima’u’anga ivi fo’ou; pea mo e ngaahi kolo mo e kakai ʻo e fonua ke nau tali lelei ʻa e ivi mo e ngaahi tekinolosia ‘oku maʻa.”

ʻOku fakahaaʻi mo fakahoko atu mei he Puleʻanga Tonga ʻa ʻene houngaʻia moʻoni ki hono ngaahi hoa ngaue ʻi heʻenau poupou mo e fengaueʻaki maʻu pe, kau ai ʻa e Potungaue ki Muli mo Fefekatau’aki ‘a Nu’usila, mo e Pule’anga ‘Ailani o fakafou ʻi he Polokalama Fakalakalaka Low Emissions Climate Resilient Development (LECRD) Polokalama ʻoku fakahoko ʻe he Green Global Growth Institute (GGGI); Pacific Centre for Renewable Energy mo e Energy Efficiency (PCREEE) ʻi he malumalu ʻo e Kautaha Komiuniti ‘a e Pasifiki; ko e Kautaha ki he Tukuimotu Iiki ‘a e Pasifiki (SIDS DOCK); ko e Kautaha Fakalakalaka ʻa e Ngaahi Puleʻanga Fakatahataha (UNIDO) mo e Kautaha Fakamamanilahi ki he Ma’u’anga Ivi Tu’uloa Fakafetitu’u (GN-SEC); Ko e Kautaha Seabased; mo e UNEP ʻo fakafou ʻi heʻene Polokalama Technology Assessment Project.

ʻOku kei hokohoko atu pe ʻa e fatongia mahuʻinga ʻo e ngaahi hoa ngaue ko ʻeni ʻi hono poupouʻi ʻo e liliu ʻa Tonga ki ha kahaʻu ivi ʻoku tolonga, malu mo taʻeueʻia ange.