The issues of displacement and forced migration, as impacts of climate change, are real concerns for vulnerable developing countries, including Tonga and small Pacific islands, Tonga’s Speaker of Parliament Lord Fakafanua, told a High Level Segment for Speakers, on 6 December, on the side of the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai, UAE.

He is leading Tonga's parliamentary delgation to COP28.

Lord Fakafanua noted the impacts of climate change to Tonga and small developing Pacific islands, despite their small contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, the Tonga Legislative Assembly's Office reported.

The Speaker also reported on the work of Tonga’s parliament, when it successfully hosted the Pacific Islands Parliamentary Group conference in August. A conference where parliaments from around the Pacific unanimously adopted the Fangatapu Declaration; committed parliaments to advance climate action.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Federal National Council of the UAE co-hosted this meeting.

Ubuntu Initiative

Meanwhile, Lord Fakafanua was invited by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the Climate Parliament, to speak on the importance of the Ubuntu Initiative, that was introduced at COP27, especially for developing countries such as Tonga.

The panel discussion explored ways in which countries' foreign debt can be negotiated for further development particularly in adaption.

Strategies included 'debt-for-climate-swaps' which could be beneficial for developing countries such as Tonga, whose economic growth is rapidly affected being extremely vulnerable to natural disasters and soaring loss and damage costs.

Also on the panel were the UN Climate Change High Level Champion, Barbados Climate Change Advisor, Expert on Foreign Debts, and Deputy Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee, at the Egyptian House of Representatives.

Climate Financing

The Ubuntu Initiative for climate financing is led by four young parliamentarians from lower-middle-income countries: Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, and Senegal. They chose the name Ubuntu, which is a South African phrase that means "I am because you are," to signify the importance of working together as humans in facing climate change risks. Working alongside academic experts and climate focused organizations they are committed to improving the economic and social well-being of the global south and the lower middle income countries. They are requesting greater support for the global south countries and lower middle income countries to drive the climate change agenda.

The initiative seeks to create a new financial architecture that eases the debts facing lower middle-income countries and place them on the path to a greener economy. The title comes from the South African philosophy of “Ubuntu”, which translates to “I am because you are,” and reflects the shared struggles of mankind.

The initiative has already drawn support from over 42 countries.

It covers three main steps to achieve its goals, the first being the implementation of debt swaps for climate change investments. Countries facing debt can swap it for investments in climate-friendly projects, freeing them of debt pressures and encouraging sustainable development paths. The next stage of the initiative is pausing debt services. This will allow countries to instead direct their financial resources towards efforts for adapting and mitigating climate change. It will also give lower middle-income countries the space and freedom to invest in renewable energy and environmentally friendly initiatives without sacrificing their economic growth. The last step involves establishing a transparent debt-relief framework for lower middle-income countries.

Inter-Parliamentary Union

Tongan MP Hon. Dr. Taniela Fusimalohi was a panelist and representative of Tonga at the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s COP28 side meeting, on the session, ‘Beyond Adaptation and Mitigation: Operationalising the Loss and Damage Fund’,

With the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund in COP27, the narrative is now on operationalising the fund.

Hon. Fusimalohi called on parliaments around the world to support this, and to hold their governments to account, in fulfilling the pledges they had made towards the Loss and Damage Fund.

He spoke about what it would mean for small island developing states in the Pacific, who are most vulnerable to climate change and at risk of dire effects like displacement and forced migration.

He stressed the need for visibility and representation of small island developing states on the governance and management of the funds.