Tonga

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Region: Polynesia

Summary:

The Kingdom of Tonga is an archipelago consisting of four clusters of islands, located northeast of Australia. It is the only Pacific Island nation that has not been colonised. Encircled by fringing reefs, most of the islands in Tonga originate from coralline. The majority of these islands are comparatively flat except for those raised by tectonic action. Consequently, the multiple effects of climate change pose a significant threat to the islands of Tonga. Some of Tonga’s adaptation projects include: public awareness programmes, coastal revegetation, coastal protection, expansion of water collection systems and agroforestry. Tonga’s climate is tropical. It is defined by a wet season from November to April, and a dry season from May to October. Tropical cyclones occur during the wet season, inflicting extensive damage on local infrastructure, agriculture and major food sources. Droughts occur during the dry season, contributing to a depletion of potable water. The two main sources of freshwater in Tonga are stored rainwater and freshwater lens found in highly porous limestone substrate. Groundwater supplies are subject to salt-water intrusion as a result of increasing sea levels. Records suggest that there has been a general increase in sea level of 14mm/yr between 1993 and 2001. The rise in mean sea level combined with extreme weather events is likely to contribute to an increase in inundation of low lying areas.

Tonga’s economy base is small, and is mainly comprised of climate-sensitive sectors such agriculture and fisheries. The country is also dependent on foreign aid. Coastal resources such as marine fisheries are vital to livelihoods of Tongans. Coral reefs, mangroves and beaches are the main environmental components of the coast which are under threat from the effects of climate change. The combination of coastal developments such as the mining of beach sand, sea level rise and extreme events caused by climate change, have led to coastal degradation.

A. Adaptation Needs and Priorities

The main vulnerabilities Tonga has identified relative to climate change are a potential increase in the frequency, duration and/or intensity of tropical cyclones, and sea level rise. Several strategies have been suggested to aid in adapting to potential changes within different sectors (TDE, 2005):

Coastal Areas: building up coastal areas with crushed limestone; relocation; protection of infrastructure against storm events; revegetation of coastal areas; elimination of onshore sand mining; fencing domestic animals (hard hooves and foraging for food damage sensitive soils); and coral management plan.
Fisheries: monitoring changes; and legislation and regulation.
Agriculture: introduction of salt tolerant species; introduction of heat tolerant crops; improved pest and disease management; crop research; restoration of degraded lands; species diversification; and farm relocation.
Forestry: land use policy; legislation and regulation; reforestation; promotion for agroforestry.
Human Health: research to understand relationship between climate and human health; and standardize health impact assessment procedures.
Water Resources: demand management; leakage control; consumer education and awareness; pricing policy; water conservation plumbing measures; alternative water supply; expansion of rainwater collection; groundwater protection; importing water; and desalination of water.

At a more macro level, the main responses to climate change recommended by and for Tonga are (TDE, 2005):

Institutionalize and mainstream climate change preparedness;
Increase national capacity to prepare and adapt to climate change;
Increase public awareness and improve understanding of climate change, variability, sea level rise, extreme events and their preparedness;
Facilitate and mainstream adaptation options into all sectoral planning; and
Develop a national climate change framework and policy

B. National Level Policies and Strategic Documents

The Kingdom of Tonga’s Initial National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was released in 2005. It notes that Tonga has a limited capability to address the myriad issues anticipated to result from climate change, and calls for the development of a policy framework for adaptation, public awareness, systematic observation, research and capacity building (TDE, 2005). The country has subsequently undertaken efforts to integrate climate change adaptation into national policies. Notably, in 2009, the Tongan cabinet adopted a new Forest Policy into which reference to climate change has been integrated.

C. Current Adaptation Action

Adaptive action in Tonga is focused in the areas of agriculture, water resources, coastal zone management and policy and planning. Most of these projects have a capacity building component; about a quarter of the projects involve pilot implementation of adaptation actions. All identified projects underway are those in which Tonga is one of several participating countries. The majority of the funding for Tonga’s adaptation actions is provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the governments of Australia and Germany.

D. Proposed Adaptation Action

There is no evidence of proposed adaptation action in Tonga at this time.

Publication

Dohan, Rosemary; Hove, Hilary; Echeverría, Daniella; Hammill, Anne, Parry, Jo-Ellen. (2011) “Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action: The Pacific.” Adaptation Partnership/International Institute for Sustainable Development, pp. 141-149.

Additional References

Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] (2011). Tonga. The World Factbook. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/theworld-factbook/geos/tn.html

Tonga Department of Environment [TDE] (2005). The Kingdom of Tonga's Initial National Communication. Retrieved from http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/tonnc1.pdf