The Kingdom of Tonga has become the 29th member country and the fifth Pacific island country to join the Global Green Growth Institute.
The membership ceremony was held during the GGGI Council and Assembly meetings on 31 October 31 at its headquarters in Seoul, Korea where a Tongan Government representative, Emeline Veikoso Laumanu, Energy Efficiency Specialist Officer of the Department of Energy, Ministry of Metrology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communication (MEIDECC) met with GGGI’s President, Ban Ki-Moon and the Director General, Dr. Frank Rijsberman.
GGGI will support Tonga in pursuing a socially inclusive green growth approach that can improve the country’s resilience to climate change and natural disasters while enhancing infrastructure, improving energy security, and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
“GGGI is looking forward to working with Government of Tonga to contribute to the goal of reaching 50% renewable electricity by 2020 and strengthening resilience and adaptation to climate change for Tonga’s islands and communities” said Katerina Syngellakis, GGGI Pacific Regional Representative.
Tonga’s membership with GGGI will strengthen existing efforts to transition the country toward a green and sustainable model of development. GGGI’s counterpart Ministry in Tonga will be the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) and GGGI will be working closely with Tonga’s Department of Energy on greenhouse gas emissions reduction opportunities, and with the Department of Climate Change on identifying suitable opportunities for adaptation and resilience as well as cross-cutting projects.
“Tonga is committed to green growth and willing to enable Renewable Energy (RE) transitions by strengthening policies and management of RE projects and technologies. Allowing Maximum RE technologies into the Tonga Electricity Grid will reduce tariffs and make Tonga more resilient to Climate Change” said Dr Tevita Tukunga, Director of Energy.
The initial work between GGGI and Tonga will focus on areas including renewable energy for reliable, affordable and inclusive energy services, energy efficiency for buildings and appliances including households and businesses, and green towns and villages including transport and waste management.
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