13th May, 2019 The Minister for MEIDECC Hon. Poasi Mataele Tei headed the Tonga delegation at the 3rd Climate Action Pacific Partnership Conference (CAPP III) held on 13-14 May 2019 at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, Fiji.
The conference delivered two days of lively discussion on how climate action can be accelerated, how transformative changes can be achieved in the Pacific, and how this can inspire action globally.
In delivering Tonga’s national statement, Hon. Minister Tei emphasized that ‘Tonga is committed in ensuring rapid progression at the national level that will empower and enable our efforts to implement the necessary actions toward achieving our international and regional obligations’.
Hon. Minister Tei further mentioned Tonga’s ‘major adaptation achievements to date include 3.2km of coastal protection in Tonga’s Eastern district, the relocation and newly constructed hospital in our central islands group of Ha’apai, and the launch of Tonga’s Climate Change Trust Fund’.
The conference also re-emphasized the need for urgent mitigation actions required to keep the 1.5°C target alive, and in keeping with obligations stated in Tonga’s Nationally Determined Contributions [NDC], Hon. Minister Tei further stated that Tonga has embarked ‘on an ambitious energy road map that will see a dramatic rise in the proportion of renewable energy in its energy supply through 50% access to renewable energy by 2020 and 100% by 2035’.
He further emphasized the ‘urgent need for enhanced support to address the extensive impacts on our oceans’ and that Tonga through its NDC is committed ‘to double the number of Marine Protected Areas by 2030’
CAPP III provided a platform to amplify the voice of the Pacific Island Countries in the UN Climate Summit in September this year, and brought together close to 300 participants from the Pacific region and internationally representing different sectors and organisations including – government, private sector, non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations, development partners, regional organisations and faith-based groups.
The delegation to the 3rd Climate Action Pacific Partnership was headed by the Minister for MEIDECC, Hon. Poasi Mataele Tei, and was accompanied the Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, Mr. Edgar Cocker, Director of the Department of Energy – Dr. Tevita Tukunga, and Senior Officials from the Department of Climate Change, and Ministry of Internal Affairs.
ENDS
Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications.