Vava’u, a small island in the Kingdom of Tonga, is one of nature’s most beautifully crafted places. From the summit of Mt Talau, the island’s highest point, the vibrant hues of the water stretch into the horizon — a mesmerising blend of deep blues and shimmering greens. But beneath this breathtaking beauty lies a growing threat: the unrelenting march of climate change.
In response, the Government of Tonga has launched Phase II of the Ridge to Reef (R2R) Project in Vava’u — a milestone initiative supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project signals Tonga’s deepening commitment to integrated environmental management and sustainable development.
Coinciding with global momentum from the third UN Ocean Conference, the launch underscores Tonga’s role as a Pacific leader in aligning local action with international frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
