Govt, GCF, UNDP launch Tonga Coastal Resilience project

Photo caption: Stephanie Speck of the Green Climate Fund (left), with Hon. Fekita ‘Utoikamanu and UNDP’s Munkhtuya Altangerel following the signing event. Photo: ©UNDP Pacific

Representatives from the Government of Tonga alongside the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) signed the project document for the Tonga Coastal Resilience Project on 29 August 2024.

Funded by GCF, this landmark initiative – with a total budget of USD 23.9 million – is a significant step forward in addressing climate change impacts across the Tongan archipelago.

Spearheaded by the Government of Tonga’s Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC), with support from the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, this project aims to build long-term resilience and implement transformative adaptation measures in vulnerable coastal communities throughout Tonga.

Tonga’s coastal communities, especially on Tongatapu’s northern shores, face significant challenges from marine hazards and sea-level rise, exacerbated by climate-induced coral reef degradation.

The 2022 Hunga Tonga Ha’apai eruption and tsunami, which destroyed parts of Tongatapu’s seawall, emphasize the urgent need for improved coastal defenses. Tonga’s vulnerability to climate change is evident in recent extreme weather events such as Tropical Cyclones Ian (2014), Gita (2018), and Harold (2020), which caused extensive damage and economic losses, underscoring the necessity for immediate climate action.

To address these challenges, the Tonga Coastal Resilience Project will drive a transformational shift in coastal adaptation. It will empower local stakeholders and communities to build a resilient and sustainable future by establishing a national multi-sectoral platform to integrate climate risk information into local development planning, strengthening local capacities to collect and manage data for coastal adaptation planning, and constructing over four kilometres of sea defenses in vulnerable coastal areas.

Additionally, the project will address issues such as land-use planning and voluntary retreat to enhance Tonga’s long-term resilience.

At the signing event in Nuku’alofa, Minister for MEIDECC, Hon. Fekita ‘Utoikamanu, said: “The urgency of building resilience in our coastal communities cannot be overstated. The response from the community in Hahake showed that there is a need for a seawall, and the approval of this project was very critical for us here in Tonga.”

GCF Head of Vulnerability and Head of Communications, Stephanie Speck, said: “This initiative is a pivotal step in safeguarding Tonga’s coastal regions and demonstrates GCF’s commitment to protect small island developing states from the perils of sea-level rise. It highlights the collective responsibility to innovate and implement adaptive strategies that not only protect but also empower vulnerable communities in the face of climate change.”

Resident Representative with UNDP Pacific, Munkhtuya Altangerel, expressed her thanks to the Government of Tonga, and the unwavering support of the GCF:

“I commend the Government of Tonga and the Green Climate Fund for their unwavering commitment to developing solutions that are both scientifically sound and community-centered. This project is a testament to Tonga’s leadership in addressing the existential threats posed by climate change.”