Tonga’s climate change officer Amelia Ma’afu Amelia Ma’afu (left) is Caritas Tonga’s climate change officer. Her salary is paid for by Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand so that she can help her country adapt and cope with some of the serious effects of climate change. She is pictured here with Kuilani, another member of the Caritas Tonga staff.

Rising sea levels are damaging coastlines, houses and coconut trees. Many of Tonga’s islands are experiencing the serious effects of climate change. Rising sea levels are damaging coastlines, houses and coconut trees.

Extreme weather events such as cyclones and storm surges are more frequent. St Joseph’s secondary school in Pangai devastated by Cyclone Ian in 2014. Caritas Aotearoa NZ funds helped with the rebuild.

Many Tongans have reduced access to fresh water due to salination of ground water. Rain water has to be harvested to provide families with water for cooking, cleaning and drinking.

They are mainly low-lying coral atolls and reefs. The area of Tonga most affected by climate change are the Ha’apai islands. They are mainly low-lying coral atolls and reefs. There are 62 islands in the Ha’apai group. Only 17 of these are populated.

People live very simply in Ha’apai. Caritas Tonga and Caritas Aotearoa assisted with the rebuild. Notice how the roof of this house is being held in place. Many lost their homes during Cyclone Ian in 2014.

Amelia visits communities in all parts of Tonga monitoring the effects of climate change, and gathering traditional knowledge about effective adaptation methods. In this image Amelia is inspecting some old water tanks in Ha’apai that have fallen into disrepair.

In 2016, Amelia oversaw the repair of many older water tanks in the Ha’apai island group, supplying safer water to 178 families.

This is the safest water to drink. She also organised for some brand new water tanks to be placed near community meeting places. This is the safest water to drink.

Amelia also conducts training to raise awareness about climate change impacts, and helps communities to develop action plans for coping with these changes.

He teaches his students about disaster-preparedness. She meets with people like Soane Vili who is the Principal of Pangai School and also a Caritas volunteer. He teaches his students about disaster-preparedness. This poster is about what to do after an earthquake if it looks like a tsunami might be coming. The poster tells the students to move quickly to higher ground, or climb the cell phone tower!

If there is an earthquake, the students are taught to get to higher ground as soon as possible. This could mean climbing the cell phone tower or climbing onto the school roof.

Amelia organises a warehouse of pre-positioned supplies, so that essential items can be shipped to the Ha’apai islands within days of a natural disaster occurring.

In February 2014, Caritas Tonga shipped food, water and hygiene kits to the Ha’apai islands, and other affected areas.

Amelia works closely with Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand to prepare Tongan people to cope with the effects of climate change. This is a joint disaster preparedness exercise. Mark (in floral shirt) is the humanitarian officer for Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand. He assists Caritas Tonga with their disaster preparedness plan.

Amelia also represents the people of Oceania at international meetings about climate change. She urges people throughout the world to reduce their carbon emissions, so that Tonga will have a brighter future.

This Lent you can help Amelia and the people of the Pacific as they adapt to climate change. Even more importantly, you can play your part to reduce the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Photo Credits: Caritas Tonga and Caritas Aoteroa New Zealand Malo! Photo Credits: Caritas Tonga and Caritas Aoteroa New Zealand