NZ announces NZ$8 million finance climate funding for Tonga [1]
Friday, August 19, 2022 - 21:04
A new investment of NZ$8 million from New Zealand’s finance commitment was committed to Tonga’s Climate Change Fund.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Climate Change Hon. Nanaia Mahuta made the announcement today, during her speech to launch of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Climate Change Finance strategy event at Ancient Tonga venue in Fangaloto, Tongatapu.
“I am pleased that Tonga is the host nation for our launch today of Aotearoa New Zealand’s International Climate Finance Strategy, Tuia te Waka a Kiwa.”
The Minister said she shared details with the Prime Minister Hon Hu’akavameiliku earlier about their new contribution of NZ$8 million to Tonga’s Climate Change Fund, as part of their scaled-up climate finance commitment to the Pacific.
“This will be directed to Tonga’s own priorities, in line with the partnership principles of our Pacific Resilience approach,” she said.
“We anticipate it could include initiatives such as projects to strengthen the resilience of public infrastructure, enhance coastal protections, reduce reliance on fossil fuels for energy and transport, and develop sustainable agriculture and protection for biodiversity.”
Finance strategy
The Minister said the strategy is central to shaping their investments to support the Pacific response to the climate crisis.
The Strategy’s Vision is that climate finance supports “Developing countries and communities to build resilience in a world on a pathway to staying within 1.5˚ [of pre-industrial temperatures]”.
“This Strategy is designed to guide our NZ$1.3 billion of climate finance investments between 2022 and 2025.”
At least 50 percent of this commitment will be directed towards the Pacific, with a key focus on adaptation.
“By more than quadrupling our previous climate finance commitment, we have an opportunity to act at scale for maximum climate impact,” she said.
“The Strategy’s vision allows us to be innovative in seeking creative mitigation and adaptation initiatives, take managed risks, and invest for the long term — looking at projects to promote biodiversity, protect the oceans, and safeguard delicate ecosystems.
“It encourages us to build enduring partnerships with research institutions in the Pacific and beyond, supporting the transfer of knowledge, data, and indigenous practices and techniques.
“It provides a framework to strengthen our climate finance influence and impact by working inclusively to ensure equity of benefits and transformative change.”
She said this includes the advancement of human rights of indigenous people, women, those with disabilities, of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics, children and youth, and other marginalised groups.
Hon. Nanaia Mahuta viewed displays at the venue presenting Tonga's climate change plans and work achieved, accompanied by Siotame Drew Havea, chairperson of the Civil Society Forum of Tonga,
Funding
The Minister later told Matangi Tonga Online that the investment of NZ$8 million could be used for several things.
“it can be used for a number of things, for example, supporting national contribution goals, national adaptation strategy and in a more localised usage of the funds, we support government based approach and we hope that between our governments we can consider the priorities that are there and that our contribution is valuable and it will help you to respond locally.”
In regards to difficulty in accessing funding, she said that non-government organizations obtaining funds is a problem that both countries face and that we could create ideas in which we can accomplish climate change responses, so that the private sector can be considered.
“The issue of secureness from the private sector is an issue for all of us, so we’ve got to think about ways in which we engage the private sector, in a conversation that each of us want to have around our current change responses but, also give them some revenues that they could think about how we can achieve a climate change response they might take account of for example, involving women and children, taking into account people with disabilities, ensuring that there are locally delivered benefits along the way,” said Hon. Nanaia Mahuta.
The minister said the involvement of Tonga’s youth in climate change initiatives could help have a positive impact on climate resilience.
“If I think about the stalls that I’ve seen, the role of youth in climate change initiatives and the way to think about food security, where you're empowering local villages to participate in your climate change response. All of that can be factored in, if we enable the private sector to seek how their support can have an impact on climate resilience.”
The minister also acknowledged her confidence that Tonga will develop the climate financial investments in ways that will promote resilience across the region, as we approach further challenges.