Tonga works to track emissions

photo: RNZ/Rebekah Parsons-King

Tonga will soon be able to track progress towards its emissions reduction targets Greenhouse gas emissions.

The Tonga Ministry of Climate Change is working with stakeholders and partners to submit a proposal for the establishment of the Tonga Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) project.

The CBIT project falls under the Paris Agreement Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF).

The project will cost $1.3 million and, if approved, is expected to run for three years, focusing on overcoming barriers in data management, institutional arrangements and capacity building.

The department, in collaboration with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), held a CBIT project validation workshop.

GGGI said that as part of the Paris Agreement, signatories are expected to set national targets. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions — short for climate change mitigation — and develop key plans for adaptation to climate change.

“The project will enhance Tonga’s capacity to determine and track national progress towards these goals in a transparent manner, consistent with what the parties to the Paris Agreement agreed to,” the Global Climate Governance Institute said in a statement.

Mihwa Wi, CBIT Project Manager at the Global Green Growth Institute, acknowledged the existing efforts and current progress under the enhanced transparency framework.

“The CBIT program is designed to build upon these existing systems by strengthening them and addressing existing gaps,” she said.

Wei said the project provides an important capacity-building opportunity for all parties involved in climate action, aiming to better contribute to Tonga’s climate resilience and transparency goals.

The Global Greenhouse Gas Initiative said that while Tonga’s greenhouse gas emissions are small, requiring developed countries and big polluters to go through the same process sets the stage for showing how small countries like Tonga are bearing the brunt of climate change consequences without making any significant contribution.