To ensure that Tonga is well-positioned to respond effectively to the impacts of climate change, the government through the Department of Climate Change under MEIDECC held a National Loss and Damage Evidence Base Validation Workshop to look at draft findings of the evidence base of loss and damage in Tonga.
Tonga continues to face increasing impacts of climate change, resulting in both economic and non-economic losses. These include damage to infrastructure, water systems, agriculture, fisheries, and livelihoods, as well as loss on cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and ecosystems.
The workshop is a progress in the development of Tonga’s first National Evidence Base Report on Climate Change-Induced Loss and Damage. The evidence base consolidates national data and insights gathered through extensive consultations, including engagement with communities in the outer islands of Vavaʻu, Haʻapai, and ʻEua.
This important national workshop is part of the ongoing implementation of the Loss and Damage Capacity and Capability (LDCC) Project, delivered in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and funded by the Government of New Zealand.
Bringing together representatives from government ministries, non-government organizations, the private sector, and development partners, the workshop aims to validate the draft findings of the evidence base.
Participants are contributing sector-specific knowledge, identifying data gaps, and ensuring the report reflects a comprehensive and accurate understanding of climate-related impacts across Tonga.
The participatory workshop includes presentations on project progress, findings from national national dialogue, and the draft evidence base.
Mr. Richard Reinen-Hamil, the leading expert from the Tonkin + Taylor emphasizes that the expected outcome is a validated and robust National Loss and Damage Evidence Base that will inform policy development, national planning, and investment decisions.
It will also strengthen Tonga’s ability to access climate finance and support resilient development pathways.
