Climate Change resilience was what Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakanō emphasised when he delivered his speech during the UN Climate Summit yesterday in New York.
The Prime Minister highlighted Tonga’s vulnerable position for natural disasters exemplifying it with Cyclone Ian which hit Ha’apai Group early this year.
The Climate Summit on Tuesday was hosted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.
He welcomed more than 120 heads of State and Government who were encouraged to sign up to a comprehensive new global climate agreement which is expected to be concluded in another summit in Paris, France next year.
The summit looked at how serious the impacts of global warming is and how it caused problems such as sea level rises, greater flood risks and changes to crop yields.
Following the Summit, Lord Tuʻivakanō will attend the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting on 25 September.
A Tongan government statement says: “The Ministers Meeting will discuss relevant issues of importance to the Commonwealth, including a Ministerial brief on the upcoming preparations for the next CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) which will be held in Malta in 2015.
From October 6-8th, the Lord Prime Minister will continue on to attend the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) with the Minister for Finance and National Planning, Hon. Dr. ‘Aisake Eke. The CFAMM will present a timely opportunity to brief Member countries on the status of the developing Commonwealth Leaders’ Statement on the Post-2015 Development Agenda”.
