Tonga: environment

What are Tonga's climate change targets?

Tonga's second nationally determined contribution, submitted in December 2020, sets a target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions from energy by 13%, or 16 Gg, by 2030 compared with 2006, according to the UNDP Climate Promise summary for Tonga. For land use and forestry it commits to a forest inventory and to planting one million trees by 2023, and for waste to expanding formal waste collection, as first steps towards emission targets in the 2025 contribution.

Adaptation targets include using 30% of Tonga's land for agroforestry or forestry by 2025, preventing any permanent loss of land to rising sea levels on the four main islands, and keeping stocks of fish and other marine species at existing levels. A Gg, or gigagram, is a thousand tonnes.

Official sources: UNDP Climate Promise: Tonga

How much of Tonga's electricity comes from renewable energy?

Renewable sources produced 12.2 GWh of Tonga's electricity in 2023, against 69.3 GWh from oil, or about 15% of the total, according to the electricity generation data on the Pacific Community's Pacific Data Hub. Solar supplied 10.8 GWh and wind 1.4 GWh.

The share is worked out from the generation figures. Renewable generation rose from 9.2 GWh in 2021 and 10.0 GWh in 2022, mostly from solar. Oil generation also rose over the period, from 67.5 GWh in 2021, so the renewable share has grown more slowly than renewable output.

Official sources: SPC Pacific Data Hub: Power generation

How much CO2 does Tonga emit per person?

The European Commission's EDGAR database puts carbon dioxide emissions per person in Tonga at 1.6 tonnes in 2024. Since 2005 it has ranged from 1.1 tonnes (2007) to 2.0 tonnes (2021). East Asia & Pacific median: 2.1 tonnes; Tonga is 16th highest of 30. Worldwide: 111th of 186.

What are Tonga's total greenhouse gas emissions?

The latest figure from the European Commission's EDGAR database, for 2024, is 0.3 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Since 2005 it has ranged from 0.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (2007) to 0.3 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (2021). Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 45.7 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, and Tonga placed 25th highest of 30. Worldwide: 176th of 186.

What share of Tonga's energy comes from renewables?

In 2022, the renewable share of final energy use in Tonga was 2.3%, according to the IEA, IRENA, the UN Statistics Division, the World Bank and the WHO. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 18.6%, and Tonga placed 11th highest of 14. Worldwide: 45th of 53.

How much of Tonga is forest?

In 2024, forest area as a share of land in Tonga was 12.1%, according to the FAO. The figure has been the same every year since 2005. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 53.6%, and Tonga placed 27th highest of 29. Worldwide: 143rd of 190.

What is air pollution like in Tonga?

The latest figure from the Global Burden of Disease study, for 2023, is 4.7 micrograms per cubic metre. Since 2005 it has ranged from 4.1 micrograms per cubic metre (2016) to 5.3 micrograms per cubic metre (2022). It is 26th highest of 30 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 11.7 micrograms per cubic metre. World rank, highest first: 187th of 192.

How much of Tonga's land is protected?

The UN Environment Programme puts the share of land in protected areas in Tonga at 13.3% in 2025. Its high point since 2013 was 2013, at 15.9%; its low point was 2019, at 12.6%. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 15.8%, and Tonga placed 17th highest of 30. World rank, highest first: 128th of 192.