Tonga supports Commonwealth Call for Action on Living Lands [1]
Friday, June 24, 2022 - 11:30
Tonga in affirming its support to the Commonwealth's Call to Action On Living Lands called for increased global funding and investment towards land and other nature-based actions, within the context of a post COVID-19 recovery.
Prime Minister Hon Hu’akavameiliku during a Commonwealth Climate Breakfast Meeting on 23 June, said the Government and the people of Tonga fully supports the mandate, as the need to commit to actions that would help in tackling climate issues is urgent.
The Living Lands Charter looks to address the issues of climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation will be presented before Commonwealth Leaders here in Kigali for their consideration and endorsement.
He said Tonga is committed to support the finalization and implementation of the Commonwealth Living Lands Charter and the Call to Action on Living Lands beyond CHOGM2022.
“I believe we all agree that with ever greater urgency we must support climate adaptation, biodiversity and land enrichment measures to protect our communities and give younger generations hope for a sustainable future.”
In addition, Tonga has called for stronger partnerships and renewed commitment between the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Rio Conventions to continue working collectively in the implementation of the work program of the Commonwealth Call to Action on Living Lands.
Hon Hu’akavameiliku said Tonga is also calling for increased global funding and investment towards land and other nature-based actions, within the context of a post COVID-19 recovery.
It is my fervent hope that the Commonwealth Call to Action on Living Lands will be a testament to our genuine partnerships and the shared commitment to action to tackle these urgent challenges, he said.
"Our survival and that of our children and future generations is at stake. This survival depends on our decisions and actions about our precious living lands and oceans. "Let us be leaders, let us be responsible, let us make the right choice, let us work together and let us act now.”
Tonga update
Meanwhile, Tonga is one of the world’s most disaster-prone and climate vulnerable country and it continues to face tremendous and highly complex pressures as we strive to recover from the triple disaster experienced in January this year,” he told the meeting.
Hon Hu'akavameiliku said this included the January 15 volcanic eruption, tsunami and heavy ash fall, which affected more than 85% of Tonga’s people.
Damage incurred equaled 24% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), followed by the impacts of COVID-19 from 1 February this year.
“The triple shock experienced at the beginning of the year adds to our longstanding effort to manage the combination of the increasingly threatening climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation. All these combined, makes it ever more challenging to achieve our Sustainable Development Goals.”
He said Tonga has suffered more than seven devastating major cyclones in the decade from 2011 to 2020.
The country records 6.4 millimetre of sea level rise per year plus on average higher ocean temperatures that has seen increasing coral bleaching around the country’s reefs.
Record rates of coastal erosion, overflow and flash flooding continue to be seen as saltwater intrusion affecting groundwater quality, leading to low crop yields are also reported.
Hon Hu’akavameiliku added that droughts and increased erosion of coastal areas and habitats continues to increase.
“The changes to our living habitat will accelerate and increasingly deteriorate living space with more warming and the continued irresponsible use of our lands and oceans. When you are a Small Island Developing State such as Tonga, you depend on the land and ocean environments for your life and livelihood. For us, this is who we are and this is a matter of survival.”
Response assistance
Hon Hu’akavameiliku also thanked the Commonwealth Secretariat and member countries for supporting Tonga in building a resilient country and assisting in its immediate response and recovery from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunamis.
The breakfast meeting was attended by various member country representatives and people working in the climate change circle.
It was held as a side event to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2022 (CHOGM2022) in Rwanda.