Tonga is set to advance its climate action efforts with the proposed Tonga Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) project, aimed at improving its ability to track progress toward greenhouse gas reduction targets.
The Department of Climate Change, in collaboration with stakeholders and partners, is working on a proposal for this initiative, which falls under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) of the Paris Agreement.
The CBIT project, projected to cost USD 1.3 million, is designed to span three years and address key challenges in data management, institutional arrangements, and capacity building. The initiative has been developed with support from the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), who conducted a validation workshop for the project.
According to the GGGI, the CBIT project aims to enhance Tonga’s capability to monitor and report its progress towards climate targets transparently. This effort aligns with the Paris Agreement’s requirements for parties to set and track national greenhouse gas reduction goals.
Mihwa Wi, the project manager for CBIT at GGGI, highlighted that the initiative will build on existing systems, strengthen them, and address gaps. “The CBIT project offers significant capacity-building opportunities, equipping all involved to better contribute to Tonga’s climate resilience and transparency objectives,” Wi said.
While Tonga’s greenhouse gas emissions are minimal, the project highlights the disproportionate impact of climate change on smaller nations. It sets a precedent for how even countries with minimal contributions to global emissions are severely affected by climate-related consequences.
