11th May 2016 Her Royal Highness and High Commissioner of Tonga to Australia, Princess Latufuipeka Halaevalu Mata’aho Tuku’aho pays a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change & Communication (MEIDECC) on a fact finding mission regarding disaster and climate change programs that are currently being implemented, and in the pipeline for the Hihifo District.
The Acting Prime Minister and Minister of MEIDECC, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni, Director of the Department of Climate Change, Ms. Lu’isa Tu’iafitu Malolo, Director of the National Emergency Management Office, Mr. Leveni ‘Aho and senior officials from MEIDECC received Her Royal Highness today, Wednesday 11 th of May, at 11:30am.
The meeting facilitated discussions on:
(1) A Possible tsunami evacuation drill for the Hihifo District;
(2) The Climate Change projects that are currently being implemented, and are in the pipeline for the Hihifo District
(3) Tree-planting initiatives both for coastal protection and food security
(4) A possible Official visit to the Hihifo project implementation sites
The Acting Prime Minister and Minister of MEIDECC, Hon Siaosi Sovaleni on behalf of the Ministry, conveyed his gratitude and appreciation for the visit,
‘We are fortunate to receive Your Royal Highness and your support on the implementation of climate change and disaster initiatives.’
The Hon. Acting Prime Minister requested that Her Royal Highness, being the High Commissioner of Tonga to Australia, if she could assist the Government and the Ministry in their efforts to access the Green Climate Fund, since the Board is co-chaired by Australia and South Africa.
“The Ministry is looking forward to working together with your Royal Highness, and the Hihifo Community, to successfully implement climate change and disaster initiatives amongst other initiatives from the seven different departments of MEIDECC’ The Department of Climate Change presented to Her Royal Highness the
EU-GIZ- ACSE- Adapting to Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Programme, which have recently started.
The EU-GIZ funded programme will focus on tree planting (mangroves) along the coast of Hihifo, starting from Fo’ui to Ha’atafu, this will add value to the Pacific
Adaptation to Climate Change Project (PACC) that was completed in 2015.
The National Emergency Management Office presented to Her Royal Highness the Tongatapu Evacuation Map that identifies evacuation areas, and the routes to these evacuation areas during a disaster, specifically focussing on where to go in the event of a tsunami.
NEMO has successfully installed a siren at Haatafu and Kanokupolu as a means of alerting the people during a tsunami, and is currently working on the formulation of an evacuation plan for Hihifo, this would include an evacuation drill training.
ENDS
Issued by the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications