The Tongan government revisited a proposal to bring millions of dollars to the nation to help its battle to reduce threatening impacts of climate change in the kingdom.
This had been discussed in a workshop in Nuku’aofa this week which was conducted by Mr. Yusuke Taishi and Mr. Kevin Petrini from UNDP.
Known as the National Appraisal Workshop on Tonga Coastal Adaptation Project Proposal, organisers said they were applying to get the money from the UNFCCC’s Green Climate Fund.
The proposal will be submitted in April.
The Minister of Climate Change Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni told the workshop Tonga wanted US$50 million “to help the vulnerable communities to better manage their natural environment through coastal protection measures, sedimentation management, environment based adaptation coastal management and capacity building”.
Hon Sovaleni said previous studies had identified highly vulnerable communities in Tonga where coastal erosion, flooding, inundation and coastal water problems needed urgent actions.
The Deputy Prime Minister said: “Tonga is at the frontline to experience further devastating impacts of climate change but the country seeks to reduce the risks and to build capacity and resilience.
“The project proposal if successful will yield resources towards addressing the aforementioned vulnerabilities at the same time help build the community’s resilience to climate change impacts and climate related events.
“It is our duty to look for solutions and find a way we can use to minimize the effects of climate change in the communities that vulnerable.”
The workshop was also attended by district and town officers, NGOs, Civil Society Forum and representatives from the communities.
The half-a-day workshop was facilitated and co-hosted by the UNDP and the Department of Climate Change under MEIDECC.
Kuo toe siofi ʻe he puleʻanga Tongá e palani ke ʻomai ki he fonuá ha tokoni paʻanga laui million ke tokoni ki heʻene feinga ke fakasiʻisiʻi e ola kovi ʻo e feliuliuaki ʻa e ʻeá ʻo maumauʻi lahi ai e ʻotu motu puleʻanga fakatuʻí.
Naʻe aleaʻi ʻeni ʻi ha uekasopu ʻi Nukuʻalofa he uiké ni ʻa ia ne tataki ʻe Mr Yusuke Taishi mo Kevin Petrini mei he UNDP.
Ko e uekasopu ʻeni ne ʻiloa ko e National Appraisal Workshop on Tonga Coastal Adaptation Project Proposal, pea naʻe sio ai e kau fokotuʻutuʻu feinga paʻangá ni ki he fokotuʻtuʻu ko ia ke kole ʻa e paʻanga laui milioná ni mei he kautaha Green Climate Fund.
Ne meʻa ʻa e Minisitā ki he Feliliuaki ʻa e ʻEá ʻOnapolo Siaosi Sovaleni ʻo ne fakahā ki he fakatahaʻangá ni ne fiemaʻu ʻe Tonga ʻa e paʻanga ke tokoni ki he ngaahi komiunitī ʻoku lavelaveangofuá ke lava ke nau levaʻi lelei ange honau ʻātakaí ʻaki hano maluʻi honau ngaahi matātahí, ngāueʻaki e founga fakatafe fakatoká mo faʻu ha ngaahi meʻa ke ne matuʻuaki e pole ʻo e ʻātakaí.
Pehē ʻe he ʻEiki Minisitaá kuo mahino mei ha ngaahi fakatotolo ako ki muʻa ʻoku kau ʻa Tonga ʻi he fuʻu tuʻu laveangofua fau he ola kovi ʻo e feliuliuaki ʻa e ʻeá ʻa ia ʻoku fiemaʻu ai ke fai mo fai ha ngāue leva ki he tafia ʻa e matātahí, tāfeá, mo e taimi ʻoku lōfia ai ʻa e vaí.
Kapau ʻe ola e fokotuʻu atu mo e kole paʻanga ko ʻení e lava ke maʻu ai ha ngaahi meʻa ke tokoni ki hono feinga ke solova ʻa e ngaahi palopalema kuo fai ʻa e lave ki aí.
Ko hotau fatongia ke kumi ha founga ke fakasiʻisiʻi ai e ola kovi ʻo e feliuliuaki ʻa e ʻeá ʻi he tapa ʻa hotau komiunitií ʻoku tuʻu laveangofuá, ko e meʻa ia ʻa e ʻEiki Tokoni Palēmiá.
Ne kau mai ki he uekasopú ni ʻa e kau ʻōfisa kolo mo ʻōfisa vahe, NGO, Sōsaieti Sivilé pea mo e kau fakafofonga mei he komiunitií.
Ko e uekasopu ʻaho taha ko ʻení ne fakafaingofuaʻi mo kaungā fakahoko ia ʻe he UNDP mo e Potungāue ki he Feliuliuaki ʻa e ʻEá.