King Tupou VI told the United Nations yesterday that Tonga strongly believes it can achieve 50 percent renewable energy by its 2020 target.  In his speech addressing the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the King also warned that climate change continues to pose significant security threats to island states.

He said Tonga's renewal energy target was possible “through more and stronger public-private partnership arrangements” and noted that Tonga had commissioned its first Independent Power Producer-owned Solar Farm last year.

He warned that climate change “continues to pose significant security threats to us as Island States” and noted with concern “the devastating impacts of climate change on our marine environment.”

He stressed that despite the effects of sea level rise, no changes should be made to Tonga’s territorial boundaries, established under the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea.

“Our Sovereignty must not be compromised by climate change and we welcome the work of the International Law Commission on this critically important and timely issue for consideration of the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly,” the King said.

Group of Friends

Earlier this month in Nauru, Pacific leaders endorsed an expanded concept of security in their communique and the Boe Declaration linking, inter alia, climate change and threats to international peace and security, he said.

In this regard, he welcomed the establishment of the “Group of Friends on Climate and Security to further highlight the nexus between the threats of climate change with threats to international peace and security”.

The UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the SAMOA Pathway which is the internationally agreed blueprint for the sustainable development of small island developing States (SIDS), are included as an integral part of Tonga’s national planning process, he said.

King Tupou VI also emphasised the importance of the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, for the follow-up, monitoring, and accountability of commitment by member states. He said the HLPF would review the SAMOA Pathway in 2019.

He was also looking forward to the 24^th Session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to be held in Poland in December, which will address the adverse impacts of climate change and the urgent need for innovation in adaptation for small island developing states.

On seabed mining, the King said Tonga engaged in this year’s first Inter-governmental Conference on the conservation and sustainable use of the biological diversity in the high seas and the seabed.

He hoped that “a gradual convergence of views will result in a zero draft of a legally binding instrument for consideration at the second and third meetings of the Inter-governmental Conference next year”.

“Tonga also looks forward to hosting the first Regional International Seabed Authority workshop in early 2019, to explore the benefits of seabed mining to the blue economy of Pacific Islands and to progressing the development of a regional treaty on deep sea mining,” he told the Assembly.

NCDs

With regards to non-communicable diseases, he said Tonga was reducing the prevalence of tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption and Tongans were “eating healthier food and involved more in physical activities” although there remained challenges such as the rise in obesity rates.

“The Tongan Government is addressing the issue by making unhealthy food choices more expensive and healthier food choices cheaper for the Tongan public,” he said.

In closing, King Tupou VI said “sustainable development, whether it be, inter alia, through good health and well-being, climate action, life below water, or affordable and clean energy, can only be realized through international peace and security.”

“We continue to look to the Security Council to protect the innocent from threats to international peace and security in whatever form, be they traditional threats such as armed conflict, or newer threats like climate change, to ensure no one is left behind.”