“Tides are changing”, PM at World Oceans Day special Cabinet briefing
14 June, 2023. Tonga Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku, at a special Cabinet briefing to commemorate World Oceans Day, highlighted that tides are changing.
According to trhe Prime Minister, “Tonga is 99.9% ocean and 0.1% land and it is critical we understand the inter-connectivity of our resources from the land to the High Seas where the connection between ‘people, planet and profit’ systems underpin security and livelihoods”.
The PM explained further that sustainable development requires a paradigm shift from single sector to ecosystem-based policies and planning.
The Briefing, at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre, focused on updating the Prime Minister and Cabinet members on the work of Ocean7 – the government’s cross-sectoral technical coordination and planning mechanism for the Ocean.
The Special Cabinet Briefing heard the progress of Tonga’s Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) program of work for 2023, including development of Tonga Ocean Management Bill, National Ocean Policy, Tonga Ocean Management Plan, Blue Economy Strategy and the MSP Implementation Plan.
The briefing heard issues of ocean and human-induced climate change and disaster risk reduction, connections between ocean, water and foods systems including nutrition and public health, ocean and Energy, the ocean and the economy among others.
Congratulating the Government and Ocean7 efforts, the Prime Minister explained that Tonga’s marine spatial planning efforts ensured that we have achieved our 30 x 30 marine protected area target under SDG14, and 100% sustainably managed areas.
“We also recognize that by doing this, we are directly contributing to the UNFCCC Paris Agreement on Climate Change mitigation, adapatation and finance, the UNCBD post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and more recently implementation of the Treaty for the High Seas or BBNJ,” he emphasized.
“All of this is connected, this is the nexus approach, which will reap multiple benefits. It is doing more, with less, sustainably. We should all be very proud. We have demonstrated to the region and globally that great things can come from the islands,” he concluded.
Acting Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC), Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, and Ocean7 Co-Chair Paula Mau said: “This year, the MSP Secretariat are happy to briefly highlight Tonga’s exemplary efforts, nationally and regionally, to safeguard our Ocean, that it may continue to thrive and bless our communities, nation and the planet. But we are also here to flag challenges and potential opportunities for a sustainable ocean and future for Tonga and its people.”
Highlighting the need for integration, cohesion, cooperation and effective coordination, Ma’u concluded that it will take all Tongan stakeholder groups to achieve a sustainable future for Tonga.
To commemorate World Oceans Day 2023, key national reports were also launched by the Hon. Prime Minister, including: the National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan, the National Invasive Species Strategic Action Plan, the Tonga Ocean Finance Profile and the Waste Audit.
Closing the event, the Ocean7 Co-Chair and Acting CEO for Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources Viliami Folau expressed: “Ocean7 is excited for what lies ahead of us, as challenging as it may be,” but coining words of ‘Epeli Hau’ofa we are compelled, because, “Oceania is us. We are the sea, we are the ocean.”
Folau thanked the donors and partners supporting Tonga’s Marine Spatial Planning program of work, with a special thanks to the Waitt Institute and the Vavau Environment Protection Association, among others, before inviting guests to view the exhibitions.
The special briefing to Cabinet was also attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Fekita ‘Utoikamanu, and the Minister of Health Hon. Dr. Saia Piukala and members of the Ocean7 technical working group.
For World Ocean Day 2023, the MSP Secretariat, in consultation with Ocean7, produced the first in a series of Knowledge Briefs to facilitate dialogue, and policy and planning processes.
The Secretariat is based at the Department of Environment, Ministry of MEIDECC.
