The Legislative Assembly this week join in commemorating the annual National Climate Change Awareness Week 2023 which began Sunday, September 17 until Friday September 22.
Parliament’s Standing Committee on Environment and Climate Change and staff were among different key stakeholders including the Tonga National Youth Congress and the community in growing 20,000 mangroves at Sopu coastal area on Monday.
Tongatapu 6 constituency MP, Hon. Dulcie Tei represented the Environment and Climate Change Committee in a morning service on Sunday at the Tokaikolo Church, Tofoa marking the launching of the national climate change week.
‘Eua 11 MP, Dr. Taniela Fusimalohi also took part in growing trees with the community at Hofangahau College in ‘Eua.
The commencement of planting tree in 2021 organised by the MEIDECC Environment Department, is a target under Tonga’s Second National Determined Contribution (NDC) to grow 1 million plants by 2023.
This year’s Climate Change Week’s theme is Building a Resilient Tonga, that is creating awareness and taking action to grow more trees in Tongatapu, ‘Eua, Ha’apai, Vava’u and the Niuas.
The Environment Department identifies that planting more trees in the coastal areas and in the community also helps Tonga’s target to reduce greenhouse gas emission for its Third National Determined Contribution (NDC) in 2025.
Climate change issues affecting Tonga includes the frequency of powerful cyclones battering Tonga, sea level rise, storm surge and coastal erosion among other issues.
MEIDECC advocates that planting trees including mangroves at Mui’i Sopu is an important mitigation activity to help protect Tonga from the impacts of climate change.