Funding pledged at COP28 will help build resilience in Education and Health [1]
Thursday, December 14, 2023 - 20:50
By Katalina Siasau
Tonga's Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku acknowledged the multi-million fundings committed by the international community at the Conference of the Parties Climate Summit (COP28), at Expo City Dubai. On his return to Tonga, he said the inclusion of Education and Health on the COP agenda, are two important sectors in Tonga that are heavily impact by climate change.
At a media briefing on Tuesday, 12 December, at St George Government Building, the Prime Minister recalled the impacts of Cyclone Gita in 2018, on education in Tonga.
"School buildings were severely damaged. Before we could find the money to repair those school buildings, students would squeeze in one classroom, some schools moved to another building, and some would conduct classes in outdoor tents, that went on for over two years."
The international Loss & Damage Fund, now over USD $700million, can help with climate recoveries here in Tonga, especially education, he said.
Meanwhile, the Bezos Earth Fund pledged $100 million, and the Global Environment Facility a $125 million, to the Pacific initiative "Unlocking the Blue Pacific Prosperity."
"Totalling up to $225 million, this fund will help the Pacific communities to look after the vast Pacific Ocean and its resources, in regard to food security and healthy ocean," said the Prime Minister.
He noted that Tonga will host the Pacific Leaders meeting in August next year, where they will look to operationalise this fund.
Pacific Resilient Fund
The Government of Australia committed AUD $100 million, and USD $50 million from Saudi Arabia, to the Pacific Resilience Fund.
"This fund creates opportunities for Pacific countries to strengthen resilience action towards climate change," he said.
Meanwhile, the total pledges at COP28 now stands at a record of USD $12.8 billion from 31 countries, with further contributions expected.