Climate change and disaster impacts

Australia is committed to working in partnership with the Government of Tonga to meet the needs and aspirations of its people to build resilience to climate change and disaster events.

Tonga is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change with most of the population and critical infrastructure located on atoll islands - including the very low-lying Tongatapu atoll. Tonga is susceptible to a range of climate change challenges, including stronger tropical cyclones, flooding, drought and heat waves, coastal erosion, increased acidity of ocean waters and sea level rise.

• As climate change impacts intensify, Tonga will experience more severe storms like 2018's Tropical Cyclone Gita (which caused damages estimated at close to 40 percent of Tonga's GDP) and 2020's Tropical Cyclone Harold. Australia's support to transition to renewable energy power is helping increase the resilience of Tonga's energy system so communities can recover more quickly after disasters.
• Tonga has a strong commitment to climate action and financing and disaster risk management. An estimated 84 per cent of the Tongan population lives within one kilometre of the coast; households, community infrastructure, agriculture, tourism and other infrastructure and assets are exposed to coastal hazards like sea level rise, inundation, flooding, and cyclones. Australia is supporting Tongan villages to develop their community development plans (CDPs) and provide resources to implement their development priorities for climate and economic resilience.
• Losses from disasters are likely to escalate with climate change. The January 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Volcanic Eruption and Tsunami has reminded us that Tonga is also vulnerable to geohazards. Increasing support for disaster risk reduction and preparedness is helping communities build resilience in the face of extreme weather events and other hazards.
• Climate change disproportionately impacts those already experiencing exclusion and marginalisation, including women, people with disabilities and people living in poverty. Australia is committed to supporting Gender-responsive and inclusive approaches to climate and disaster risk resilience result in better program outcomes.

Bilateral programs

Australia integrates climate and disaster resilience through its bilateral development assistance to Tonga across all areas of programming, including the infrastructure, education, energy and governance sectors.

• Australia is partnering with Tonga and New Zealand to build a new climate and disaster resilient Parliament House and Legislative Assembly, following the old building's destruction by Cyclone Gita in 2018. The design process will be risk informed, taking into consideration climate projections for the lifespan of the building.
• The Tonga Renewable Energy Stabilisation Package ($17.8 million, 2024-2027)is supporting upgrades to energy infrastructure on Tongatapu, ensuring it is safer, more reliable and climate resilient. The upgrades will support Tonga's transition to 70% renewable energy by 2030.
• Tonga Australia  Resilient Communities Project($9.7million 2024-2029) is a partnership with Tongan NGO MORDI to provide grants and resources to Tonga's villages to implement their priorities for climate and economic resilience, defined through local governance approaches (Community Development Plans). One hundred and twenty-two villages will benefit across all of Tonga's island groups.
• The Tonga Sendai Framework Implementation Program ($400,000 over 2024-2027) is hardening of two seismic sensors installed following the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai volcanic eruption; assembling and installing two Global Navigation Satellite System stations to collect data on vertical land motion; and provides training in collecting and interoperating the data and maintaining the equipment. Strengthening Tonga's early warning systems.
• Through the Kafa Taha: Tonga Australia Governance Support program , Australia is helping the Government of Tonga undertake policy reformsand mainstream climate initiatives .
• Safe and Resilient Schools Project (AUD9.3 million 2023-2027) led by the World Bank together with the Tongan Ministry of Education and Training for Tonga aims to enhance the safety and resilience of education facilities; and to improve the quality of data-driven education management, curricula, and assessments.
• Through the upgrade and expansion of Queen Salote international port (AUD31.3m through AIFFP) together with ADB, Australia is supporting climate-resilience measures including installation of a concrete seawall, solar-powered lighting and stormwater drainage. The project is nearing completion and will be commissioned in October 2025.
• Australia is partnering with New Zealand to design and build Tonga's new Parliament House and Office of the Legislative Assembly (AUD18 million), which were destroyed by Tropical Cyclone Gita in 2018. The Tonga Parliament Buildings Project aims to deliver a modern and climate resilient building design that will strengthen Tonga's governance and democratic participation.

Regional and global programs

A range of regional and globally funded climate change investments are working directly to build climate change and disaster resilience in Tonga and across the region, including:

• Support for the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) ($100 million foundational contribution). The PRF is a Pacific-led, owned and managed financing facility, which will provide grants for climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, nature-based solutions and projects which respond to loss and damage. It will meet identified climate finance gaps in the Pacific, particularly by providing a more sustainable funding source for smaller scale projects. Tonga will be the country of domicile.
• The Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific Phase 3 (COSPPac3) (Australian contribution $30 million, 2023-29) supports the Tonga Meteorological Service to provide climate and ocean monitoring and prediction services. Climate predictions help farmers plan for planting and harvesting, and Pacific island countries to prepare for disasters like droughts and tropical cyclones. Ocean predictions (tide, currents, wind and waves) support fishing, tourism and shipping. Australia has also supported the repair and restoration of tide gauges.
• The Climate Finance Access Network ($9.5 million, 2023-206) has embedded climate finance experts in Fiji, Kiribati, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu providing localised support and capacity building to help Pacific ministries plan and prepare for climate investment opportunities, structure finance, develop a pipeline of high-impact projects and support country-identified needs.
• Through Pacific Women Lead, Australia supports  the Shifting the Power Coalition (1.9 million 2021- 2026) to strengthen diverse women's leadership in humanitarian action.
• Australia Pacific Partnership for Energy Transition (AUD50m over 2025 to 2029). Tonga is one of the five recipient countries under the Australia-Pacific Partnership for Energy Transition which will support Pacific nations to transition away from fossil fuels. The partnership aims to equip partners in the region with tools and skills needed to progress their energy transition and ensure policy and regulations help scale up grid-based renewable energy and infrastructure.
• Through The Australia Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) REnew Pacific Program (AUD75m over 2025-2029) is providing AUD75m in grants and co-financing to support off-grid renewable energy for rural and remote communities across the Pacific.