Joint National Action Plan on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management 2018-2028.

The Joint National Action Plan on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management is a national policy covering the period of 10 years between 2018 and 2028. This policy aims at increasing the resilience to the impacts of climate change and disaster risks for the present and future generations through an inclusive and participatory approach that is based on good governance, strong and proactive communities and sustainable development.
Climate change adaptation and mitigation and disaster risk management will be mainstreamed in the national policy and legal frameworks. Multi-hazard disaster preparedness, response and recovery plans will be developed and implemented for priority sectors, such as biodiversity, energy, fisheries, forestry, land, water, education, health and youth. The resilience of communities and their livelihoods to the impacts of climate change and disasters will be increased. The partnerships between the Government, civil society, communities and the private sector will be strengthened and all community development plans and island strategic development plans will be progressively aligned with the goal of the resilient Tonga. Standard resilience guidelines will be developed for all community engagement activities. Integrated water resource management plans will be prepared for all rural villages in line with the national coastal zone and land use management plans.
Gender equality will be integrated into all climate change adaptation and disaster risk management approaches. The awareness of communities will be raised on climate change adaptation and on preparation and response to natural disasters. Social vulnerabilities will be reduced by placing people with disabilities, elderly, women and girls at the centre of all planning, preparedness and response activities. The access to finance and resources will be enabled for all stakeholders, including women, youth and vulnerable groups, to achieve climate resilience, particularly through the Climate Change Fund.
Research, monitoring and data management will be improved for building resilience. Vulnerability and risk assessments will be integrated into gender disaggregate data and traditional knowledge to inform resilient development. Training will be conducted on the management and use of climate change portal and GIS-based systems. An early warning system and monitoring systems will be developed, focusing in particular on groundwater, soil health, and coastal vulnerability.
Resilience-building actions will be implemented at the national, island and community levels, with a specific emphasis on achieving food and water security, strengthening coastal and marine infrastructure, promoting cleaner and renewable sources of energy, implementing integrated coastal- and ecosystem-based adaptation, and reducing flood risk. Climate-smart agriculture and water management approaches will be implemented in the contexts of climate change and disasters. The management of fisheries and aquaculture will be strengthened for increased resilience of these sectors. Fisheries monitoring and extension will be improved, particularly for inshore areas. The communities will be trained in the fields of management and monitoring of Special Management Areas. The use of Fish Aggregation Devices will be extended and their designs will be improved to be more resilient to storms and cyclones.