By Puaseiese A Pedro, Office of Prime Minister Tuvalu
In a decisive effort to protect its most vulnerable communities, the Kingdom of Tonga is actively advancing the Tonga Climate Change Fund, as highlighted by Ms. Fololita Sila from the Department of Climate Change during her participation in the second Pacific Climate Change Roundtable.
Established in 2011 and operationalised through the Tonga Climate Change Fund Act of 2021, this initiative aims to provide direct support to vulnerable communities in Tonga and its outer islands, ensuring that they have access to crucial funding for climate adaptation projects.
“We are the third Pacific Island country at the highest risk to climate change and disasters,” Ms. Sila stated. “It’s essential for us to engage in dialogues like this to share our challenges and strategies with neighboring countries and donor partners.”
The roundtable facilitated vital networking opportunities for Tonga, allowing Ms. Sila and her delegation to discuss national climate priorities with international donors.
“This forum helps strengthen our relationships, not only with our Pacific neighbors but also with donor partners who can support our work,” she explained.
“By showcasing our climate change priorities, we hope to attract investment into our Tonga Climate Change Fund, which focuses on the needs of our most vulnerable communities.”
Highlighting the fund's significance, Ms. Sila shared, “Our commitment to addressing climate change is evident with the Tonga Climate Change Fund. It was designed with Tongan communities in mind, targeting those most affected by climate impacts. With support from partners like New Zealand, Japan, Australia, and the UK, we can enhance our capacity to respond effectively.”
In June 2023, the Tongan government declared its national climate change priorities, which align with its National Adaptation Plan and National Determined Contributions (NDC). This declaration allows diverse organizations and community groups to apply for funding, promoting grassroots efforts in climate adaptation initiatives such as water security, food security, and renewable energy.
The urgency of the situation was clear in her remarks, “We need to make our Tonga Climate Change Fund more visible to donors,” she said. “Communities are seeking ways to access funds to alleviate the impacts of climate change, and our role is to facilitate that process.”
As the roundtable concluded, Ms. Sila expressed hope, “Every year at the Pacific Climate Change Roundtable is an opportunity for us to share our priorities and make concrete commitments. We must ensure that the dialogue continues and translates into actionable support for our communities.”
Through strengthened partnerships and shared commitment, the Tonga Climate Change Fund is poised to play a pivotal role in enhancing climate resilience for those at risk in Tonga, allowing local communities to access vital support in navigating the challenges posed by climate change.
The Pacific Climate Change Roundtable (PCCR), guided by the theme “1.5 to stay alive and thrive,” is taking place at Taumeasina Island Resort from 13-15 August. The PCCR is attended by Pacific governments, youths, civil society, academia, NGOs, and the private sector to engage collectively through the use of interactive activities to share their experiences amongst peers, bolster their networks and utilise the event to initiate new partnership opportunities.
The PCCR follows the Pacific Regional Loss and Damage Dialogue 2025 and the inaugural Pacific Youth Dialogue on Loss and Damage, at the same venue in Samoa.
This story was produced by the Pacific Media Team covering the meetings. Their attendance is made possible with funding support from the Loss and Damage Capability and Capacity (LDCC) Project with the Government of New Zealand.