King Tupou VI supported the call to urgently address the adverse impact of climate change, when he addressed the United Nation’s General Assembly on Saturday 27 September in New York, United States.

In his address King Tupou VI commended UN agreements, stressed climate change and the protection of Tonga’s ocean resources.

He commended UN agreements such as the Samoa Pathway, a preamble by the United Nations to support the development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

“It is a blueprint for sustainable development of Small Island Developing States for the next decade and therefore must be integrated into the form and substance of the post 2015 development agenda,” he stated.

King Tupou VI supported the call to address climate change

“The 2013 world risk report had ranked Tonga the second most vulnerable country in the world to natural disasters. This vulnerability was evidence by our first Category 5 Cyclone earlier this year that devastated our central islands group, displacing thousands, resulting in millions of dollars’ worth of damage. However, and fortunately it caused only one fatality. Today the same central island group is experiencing an unseasonal draught.”

“In the spirit of sustaining international cooperation, we support the call to urgently address the adverse impact of climate change. The collective response will be subject to the outcome of the ongoing negotiations through the United Nations framework convention on climate change.”

King Tupou VI stressed marine conservation and Tonga’s interests in its ocean territory.

“Tonga is a joint custodian of the Pacific Ocean whose natural resources are the bedrock of Pacific Island economic social and environmental development. The wellbeing of the Tongan people is therefore premised on a sustainable development, management and conservation of the ocean and its resources.”

“This year Tonga passed legislation related to seabed mining activities within Tonga’s jurisdiction and under the provisions of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea [2] (UNCLOS). Tonga joined its Pacific Island neighbours in supporting the call for the launching of negotiations by September 2015 for an international agreement under UNCLOS for the management and conservation of the earth’s ocean and its resources both within and in areas beyond its national jurisdiction,” he stated.