I'm headed to COP28, but this trip isn't just another professional obligation, it's a deeply personal mission, fuelled by a profound sense of purpose and a commitment to give a huge underdog a helping hand.
Earlier this year, I found myself in the heart of Tonga, alongside my fellow Climate Reality Mentor and Tongan Climate Ambassador, Uili Lousi. It was a moment of awakening when Uili reached out with a simple yet powerful request:
"Lee, the Kingdom of Tonga needs you."
Uili Lousi and Lee Stewart at the Climate Reality Meetup, Auckland Climate Festival
The Devastation: A Nation Underwater
The devastation wrought by the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano in January 2022 was beyond imagination. Villages and resorts vanished overnight, and the sea unleashed a tide of plastic waste, a grim reminder of the wider world's neglect.
The Scale of the Crisis
- Entire communities destroyed in minutes
- Massive influx of plastic waste from the ocean
- Critical infrastructure damaged or lost
- A nation struggling to rebuild while facing an overwhelming waste crisis
From Corporate Constraints to National Impact
In Tonga, my role has transformed into something extraordinary: helping the nation rise above the overwhelming waste crisis.
After 20 years of feeling constrained as a corporate sustainability professional, the opportunity to apply fresh, unbridled thinking to aid a nation in desperate need has been truly liberating.
This is sustainability without the corporate red tape. No endless approval chains. No watered-down compromises. Just practical, ambitious solutions for people who need them most.
The Vision: World's First Circular Kingdom
I'm thrilled to share that we've developed an ambitious plan for Tonga to emerge as the "World's First Circular Kingdom."
Zero Waste Roadmap for Tonga by 2040
The roadmap focuses on four key pillars:
1. Robust Governance & Legal Frameworks
Policy, regulation, and institutional structures to support circular economy transition.
2. Community-Focused Education & Awareness
Grassroots engagement, behaviour change, and capability-building at every level.
3. Strategic Infrastructure Investment
Waste collection, sorting, processing facilities, and circular business infrastructure.
4. Holistic Circular Economy Practices
Designing out waste, keeping materials in use, regenerating natural systems.
Milestones: 2028, 2030, 2040
These initiatives are interlinked, with significant milestones set for the present and future:
2025-28: Quick Wins
- Fully circular glass economy (6 months)
- 30% plastic waste conversion (12 months)
- New micro-businesses and jobs created
- Community engagement programs launched
2030: Systemic Change
- Comprehensive waste infrastructure
- Circular economy in policy and practice
- Regional leadership and knowledge-sharing
2040: Zero Waste Kingdom
- Full circular economy achieved
- Model for Pacific nations and beyond
- Resilient, self-sufficient systems
Why This Matters Beyond Tonga
With proper funding and partners, we believe Tonga can go fully circular with glass within just six months, creating new micro-businesses, jobs, and a brighter future.
Give us another six months and we estimate we can turn close to 30% of the plastic waste into a viable resource.
More importantly, this project offers hope to the resilient people of Tonga and sets a precedent for other Pacific nations facing similar challenges.
Lessons for Australian Business
The Tonga project demonstrates principles that apply to any organisation:
- Start with what matters most, Focus on high-impact, achievable wins
- Engage the community, Sustainability only works when people are part of the solution
- Build circular systems, Design out waste, not just manage it
- Think long-term, act now, Ambitious vision with immediate action
- Collaborate for impact, No single organisation can solve complex challenges alone
COP28: Bringing Tonga's Vision to the World
We are bringing this vision to COP28, and I am proud to be part of the Tongan delegation.
We seek not just funding but partnerships to breathe life into Tonga's dream of a zero waste, circular economy.
Our goal extends beyond Tonga, it's a model for every nation struggling with waste management, climate resilience, and sustainable development.
What We're Looking For
Funding Partners
To accelerate infrastructure and capability development
Technology Partners
Circular economy solutions, waste processing innovations
Knowledge Partners
Expertise in policy, education, community engagement
Business Partners
Micro-enterprise development, circular business models
Government Partners
Regional collaboration, policy alignment, capacity-building
Get Involved
If you're at COP28 and interested in our project or can offer support, please reach out. We're eager to discuss our vision for a sustainable Tonga and Pacific.
If you're not at COP28 but want to support this work, get in touch, there are many ways to contribute.
For Australian businesses exploring circular economy, waste reduction, or climate resilience strategies, the lessons from Tonga can inform your own journey. Book a consultation to discuss how circular thinking can transform your operations.
"Mo e taki malu'i he fonua, mo e taki malu'i he tahi moana"
"Protect the land and the shallow waters, protect the deep ocean."
, Tongan proverb
This Tongan proverb captures the essence of our mission: sustainability that honours place, people, and planet. Tonga's journey is just beginning. And I'm honoured to be part of it.