Tonga’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is learning from the Queensland experience of flooding, water management, and land use planning to avoid hazards and to control where people live. The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Lord Tu‘i‘afitu met experts at the Queensland Department of Resources (QDOR) in Brisbane on December 9 2022, at the conclusion of a visit to Australia.
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Results for Environment
Tuesday 13 December 2022
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Brisbane, Australia

Thursday 8 December 2022
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Canberra, Australia
On a visit to Australia this week, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Lord Tu'i'afitu, visited Geoscience Australia and extended Tonga's gratitude to staff, who responded to the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai volcanic eruption on 15 January. They have a shared interest in improving the monitoring and understanding of geohazards, as the January eruption generated a tsunami that reached Australia.

Saturday 26 November 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Pacific Resilience Project (PREP) was presented by Tonga government officials to visiting World Bank (WB) delegates this week, as Tonga seeks more initiatives and assistance to strengthen natural disaster resilience.

Tuesday 1 November 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Data collected from the tsunami affected small islands of ‘Atata, Malinoa and Fafa will be used for inundation forecast modeling for future volcanic tsunami events in Tonga. TGS stated that 'Atata, Malinoa and Fafa Islands were badly damaged by the tsunami with wave heights estimated to have reach 7m, 6.5m and 6m above sea level on each island respectively.

Friday 12 August 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Clear signs of continuing volcanic activity were seen inside the deep caldera of the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai (HTHH) volcano by an unmanned remotely operated surface vessel, the (USV) Maxlimer on its first initial survey mission in Tonga. Scientists say it is too early to tell if it is due to a continuing eruption or hydrothermal venting from cooling lava or both. They are continuing with their surveys to map the caldera and the hydrothermal vents within it.

Tuesday 21 June 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The storage and disposal of refrigerants at the Customs area is a concern for Tonga's National Ozone Unit, while more research is needed on the control of methyl bromide by the Quarantine Division. These concerns were raised at a meeting, held to oversee Tonga's obligations to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, on 15 June in Nuku'alofa.

Thursday 28 April 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
People living on Tongatapu can now sort out their clean plastic and glass waste for recycling at Tapuhia Tip, with collection services starting on Saturday, April 30.

Sunday 17 October 2021
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Dubai, UAE
The Tonga Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, had its busiest day on Friday welcoming 1,864 visitors on 15 October. Visitors have praised Tonga’s commitment, through its theme ‘A Planet For Us All’, a powerful and positive message, raising awareness of plastic and other pollution in our oceans while providing a thrilling experience for the children.

Thursday 9 September 2021
Marseille, France
Scientists estimate that the World has lost more than half of its coral reefs, and we could lose the rest by the end of the century, according to a report of the Global Reef Expedition that was released early this week at Marseille, France. Tonga was one of 16 countries surveyed in the 10-year research mission spearheaded by the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation.
Wednesday 8 September 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An NZD$7.2 million Climate Resilient Islands Programme focusing on nature-based solutions to climate change in rural communities in Tonga was launched in Nuku'alofa on September 7.

Tuesday 22 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A New Zealand grant of $30,000 pa’anga to plan the phase out of single use plastics was provided to Tonga today, 22 June.

Friday 11 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s Marine Atlas was launched to commemorate World Ocean’s Day under the theme ‘The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods” (Ko e Oseni- hono ngaahi me’a mo’ui pea koe ma’u’anga mo’ui) by Minister for Environment (MEIDECC), Hon Poasi Tei, at an official event on June 8 at Davina House in Ma’ufanga.

Wednesday 2 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An exhibition displaying sustainable arts and crafts made from natural materials and plastic was held today in Nuku'alofa, as one of the activities marking Environment Week. By Eleanor Gee.

Monday 29 March 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An online portal containing the government’s work on climate change was launched at a workshop last Friday, 26 March.

Monday 15 March 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Fourteen Tongan businesses were recognized for their initiatives in tackling plastic pollution to mark World Consumer Rights Day 2021 today, March 15.

Friday 12 March 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga needs to pay attention to our sanitation - a main source of pollutants, says a survey. Compost toilets are an environmentally friendly solution and pilot projects at Kanokupolu and Kolovai Government Primary Schools under the Tonga Integrated Water and Coastal Management Project were launched at an event attended by Prince Ata on March 10.

Wednesday 3 February 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Thirty-five (35) earthquakes with a magnitude of 4 or more were recorded across Tonga in January, but none of them were “felt”, reports the latest Tonga Geological Services Seismic Bulletin released today.

Friday 29 January 2021
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Tonga's Cabinet on 20 January 2021 approved a zero rate of Consumption Tax for the services of collection and disposal waste by a government approved waste management entity, the Waste Authority Ltd. However, the savings will not be passed onto the public.

Wednesday 27 January 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An important mangrove area at the mouth of Tongatapu’s Fanga'uta Lagoon that was destroyed in 2017 to make way for a golf course project in Popua, is slowly being restored by the Department of Environment. “It’s a huge job to restore this area,” said team leader, Hoifua Aholahi, who urges the public not to destroy the nurseries at the site.

Tuesday 19 January 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Touliki Public Swimming Pool, is currently under reconstruction by the Ca’Bella Pacific Construction (Tonga Ltd) for a new venture called the Tonga Aquatic Sports, a personal project of the Ca’Bella general manager, Paea Pau’u.
