The Prime Minister of Tonga, in a stirring address to the United Nations General Assembly, emphasized the urgent need for global solidarity and action in the face of a multitude of pressing challenges.
Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku began his speech by congratulating the President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly and expressing gratitude to the outgoing president for his stewardship. He wholeheartedly supported the session’s vision of “Peace, Prosperity, Progress, and Sustainability.”
Highlighting the theme of “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity,” he underscored the critical importance of trust as the foundation of international cooperation. Without trust, the joint endeavor to foster peace, security, and sustainable development becomes unattainable.
The Prime Minister touched upon a range of pressing global issues, including climate change, rising sea levels, pollution in oceans, and natural disasters. He stressed the need for immediate action to address these challenges and urged nations to work collaboratively to combat climate change and protect vulnerable island states like Tonga.
Hu’akavameiliku also pointed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and expressed concern that over 50% of the SDG targets were considered “weak and insufficient.” He called for a review of the international financial architecture to provide greater access to financing for small island developing states like Tonga, emphasizing the importance of resilience against external shocks.
The Prime Minister called for more significant commitments to climate finance, citing the inadequacy of current pledges, and advocated for the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund. He also praised the adoption of a resolution calling for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice regarding climate change.
Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku stressed the need for trust, cooperation, and concrete action to address the world’s challenges. He called upon the international community to uphold the principles of the United Nations Charter and work together to achieve a world characterized by peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability.