Tonga’s long-term strategy puts forward a common vision of a low-emission, resilient and autonomous future reached through an extensive stakeholder engagement process supported by technical analysis. The strategy describes sectoral pathways and identifies policy actions consistent with near-term NDC commitments as well as sustainable development and gender equality goals. Tonga’s approach to its long-term strategy development illustrates how strategic participatory stakeholder processes can be used to build implementation plans for a resilient, equitable low carbon transition.
With support from Relative Creative, Climateworks and Global Green Growth Institute, the Government of Tonga developed a stakeholder engagement plan based on dialogue and consensus. Local facilitators helped identify and assemble a cross-sectoral stakeholder group representing government, industry and civil society, while a series of workshops were held to: sketch future visions; iterate and identify needed actions; and converge on a shared vision, sector pathways and priority actions. After each workshop, a report was sent back to the group for feedback, allowing issues to be identified for discussion in following workshops. The final strategy was then validated with the steering committee and stakeholder group to ensure it truly reflected the consensus reached through the dialogues. With limited access to reliable emissions data, the workshops used a qualitative process of divergent thinking (open-ended, creative) to develop possible visions and a convergent process (analytical, strategic) to refine them. Dialogues were conducted mostly in Tongan with local facilitators and incorporated culturally relevant metaphors and locally applicable contexts. Local facilitators helped identify and assemble a cross-sectoral stakeholder group representing government, industry and civil society, while a series of workshops were held to: sketch future visions; iterate and identify needed actions; and converge on a shared vision, sector pathways and priority actions. After each workshop, a report was sent back to the group for feedback, allowing issues to be identified for discussion in following workshops. The final strategy was then validated with the steering committee and stakeholder group to ensure it truly reflected the consensus reached through the dialogues. With limited access to reliable emissions data, the workshops used a qualitative process of divergent thinking (open-ended, creative) to develop possible visions and a convergent process (analytical, strategic) to refine them. Dialogues were conducted mostly in Tongan with local facilitators and incorporated culturally relevant metaphors and locally applicable contexts.
The stakeholder process undertaken here is a model that the Tongan government now considers the gold standard to be used in other policy development. It is also one from which other countries planning for net-zero implementation can learn.
Realizing Net-Zero Emissions: Good Practices in Countries
This case study is part of a working paper outlining a “Framework for Net-Zero Climate Action,” emphasizing outcomes, enabling action areas and actions crucial for achieving net-zero emissions. It showcases real-world examples of countries implementing these strategies, offering valuable insights for others.
Read More
Read More Net-Zero Case Studies in this Series:
