The Weather Ready Pacific (WRP) programme has received a major boost with Tonga’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Lord Fakafanua, graciously accepting the role of championing the Weather Ready Pacific Programme.
Confirmed during his recent meeting with the Director General of SPREP on 30 January 2026, this marks a significant milestone for regional efforts to strengthen weather and climate resili-ence across the Pacific.
It also signals Tonga’s strong commitment to lead the way in championing flagship, Pacific-led initiatives that address the escalating impacts of climate change, while strengthening the resilience of communities across the region.
Through its sustained political leadership and advocacy, Tonga continues to demonstrate how steadfast national commitment can drive collective regional action and inspire greater inter-national support for a safer, more climate-resilient Pacific.
The Weather Ready Pacific (WRP) Programme was developed by the Pacific for the Pacific through the Pacific Meteorological Council and endorsed at the 51st Forum Leaders Meeting to support countries to strengthen National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), improve early warning systems, and ensure life-saving weather, climate and other extreme events information reaches communities when it matters most.
By taking on the role of Champion, the Tongan Prime Minister brings political leadership and a credible voice that will help amplify the programme’s message among international partners and donors. This high-level advocacy is expected to strengthen engagement with development partners, multilateral agencies and climate finance institutions, positioning Weather Ready Pacific as a critical investment for safeguarding lives, livelihoods and economies in the Pacific region.
“The Weather Ready Pacific programme is about saving lives and protecting livelihoods from extreme events,” the Prime Minister said.
“Reliable, timely and accessible weather and cli-mate information empowers our communities to prepare, respond and adapt in a collabora-tive, transformative and sustainable way. I am proud to champion this programme and to ad-vocate for stronger global support for Pacific-led solutions.”
The Champion role will also support greater alignment between regional priorities and global commitments under frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Agreement, and the UN Early Warnings for All initiative. By showcasing Pacific leadership and success stories, Weather Ready Pacific aims to demonstrate the high return on in-vestment that comes from strengthening meteorological services and early warning systems.
SPREP, which coordinates the Weather Ready Pacific programme in close partnership with Pacific NMHSs and regional stakeholders, welcomed the appointment. The organisation noted that having a Head of Government as Champion sends a strong signal of the programme’s importance and urgency.
“We are grateful to have the Honourable Prime Minister of Tonga as our WRP Champion,” said the Director General of SPREP, Mr. Sefanaia Nawadra.
“Lord Fakafanua will bring another level of support for the work that we do at the political level and will help bring more awareness to the importance and life-saving nature of this work. It also continues a legacy of support from Tonga’s Leadership since the inception of Weather Ready Pacific initiative to its realisation and approved by the Leaders in Tonga in 2024,” he added.
With renewed momentum and high-level leadership and support, Weather Ready Pacific is well positioned to attract increased and sustained funding from international partners, ensuring Pacific countries are better equipped to anticipate, prepare for and respond to weather related severe events and other earth system hazards, now and into the future.
For more information, please contact Mr. ‘Ofa Fa’anunu, WRP Programme Manager, at [email protected].