Tonga is ranked as the second or third most vulnerable country to climate change impacts in the world, whilst contributing a negligible amount to global greenhouse gas emissions. In Tonga, the multiple and cumulative impacts from climate change are mostly felt at the community level, resulting in major implications for the affected communities and Tonga’s national economy. Increases in the intensity and incidence of rainfall, temperatures, droughts, tropical cyclones and storms, sea level rise and ocean acidification – are currently and will continue to, impact on community food security and livelihoods, and their ability to build resilience to future impacts on key sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, water, and infrastructure.

The objective of the Strengthening on-ground community resilience and sustainability to climate change in the Kingdom of Tonga project is to reduce damage due to climate change through community and island level adaptation. The project will focus on urgently needed adaptation responses to cumulative climate change impacts on communities through the provision of resources, technical and capacity support to introduce innovative approaches to community and island /district resilience to climate change impacts in the Kingdom of Tonga, driving sustainable, long-term community responses to climate change through:

a)  Strengthening institutional mechanisms to support islands and communities to develop and implement climate resilient interventions; and

b)  Grants for island / district and community-driven climate resilient interventions.