About the Client
The Kingdom of Tonga is one of the world's most climate-vulnerable nations, located in the heart of the Pacific. With low-lying islands, increasing waste pressures, and a strong cultural and ecological connection to the ocean, Tonga is on the front line of environmental change.
The Challenge
Tonga faces mounting challenges in managing waste and preserving its marine ecosystems, particularly in outer islands like Vavaʻu, where plastic pollution threatens some of the Pacific's most pristine waters, home to humpback whales that migrate annually to give birth. To strengthen national resilience, Tonga needed support in developing a forward-looking strategy and engaging on the global stage to attract technical and financial partnerships.
Our Approach
ESG Strategy supported the Government of Tonga across local, national, and international initiatives, including leading the development of Tonga's first Circular Economy Strategy aimed at delivering long-term waste reduction and resource security; providing strategic and technical support to Tonga's official delegation at COP28, including in high-level bilateral meetings and climate finance advocacy; supporting a grassroots NGO based in Vavaʻu to build a locally driven, community-informed response to the island's growing waste challenges; and helping to shape and promote the 'Zero Waste Tonga 2040' vision, positioning Tonga as a Pacific leader in circular economy thinking and climate resilience.
Results
- Circular Economy Strategy developed and endorsed to guide national waste policy
- Tonga's delegation received strategic support at COP28, raising its profile in bilateral and multilateral meetings
- Community-led waste initiatives initiated in Vavaʻu, linking local voices to national priorities
- Tonga's international narrative strengthened around climate finance and waste resilience
"Lee Stewart's expertise has been essential in shaping sustainable strategies for waste and environmental protection. His work is invaluable to Tonga's future."