Tonga Climate Change Policy - A Resilient Tonga by 2035.

The purpose of this cross-sectoral Tonga Climate Change Policy is to provide a clear vision, goal, and objectives to direct responses to climate change and disaster risk reduction over the next five years. The goal of the policy is to achieve the vision of a Resilient Tonga by 2035. This will be realized through achievement of specific targets.
Regarding gender considerations, in recognizing that men and women face different social, environmental, and economic situations, gender issues will be considered in all planning and implementation processes. A better understanding of the vulnerabilities and capacities of different gender groups to deal with climate change will be promoted
Moreover, to develop a resilient Tonga through an inclusive, participatory approach that is based on good governance, builds knowledgeable, proactive communities and supports a strong sustainable development pathway.
In fact, to fully mainstream the goal of a Resilient Tonga into government legislation, policies, and planning at all levels the Tonga Climate Change Policy have established some objectives: To strengthen existing decision-making structures, in particular the National Environment and Climate Change Committee and the Environment and Climate Change Standing Committee in Parliament;To fully embed the goal of a Resilient Tonga through planning, design and execution of programmes in all government ministries, with supporting guidelines (incorporating the targets for a Resilient Tonga) and on-going capacity development, with all climate change staff across all Ministries required to report to and meet regularly with the Department of Climate Change to ensure a fully coordinated approach; To implement a fully coordinated resilience planning approach across all relevant government ministries to ensure that they all have actionable and costed plans with the targets for a Resilient Tonga fully integrated (with a priority focus on biodiversity, education, energy, fisheries, forestry, health, infrastructure, land, water, and youth), and supporting policies and legislation where necessary; To develop standard resilience guidelines (incorporating the targets for a Resilient Tonga) for all community engagement activities which are to be implemented through strengthened partnerships between government, CSOs, and the private sector, with MIA strengthened in its coordinating role, and all Community Development Plans and Island Strategic Development Plans progressively aligned with the goal of a Resilient Tonga.
The mechanism for implementation will be through the revised JNAP, along with all other plans (at sector, island, and community level) that are fully aligned with the goal and targets of this policy.