GGGI Launches Climate Transparency Projects in Tonga, Palau, and Samoa
December 19, 2025
Category
Suva, Fiji – December 19, 2025– The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is empowering Pacific Island nations to lead on climate action with the launch of three Capacity-Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) projects in Tonga, Palau, and Samoa. These projects will transform national systems for tracking and reporting climate data, ensuring the Pacific remains a global example of transparent, resilient, and data-driven climate leadership.
CBIT Validation Workshop in Samoa. Photo Credit: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
Running until December 2029, the projects, collectively supported with over USD 4 million will enhance national transparency frameworks, improve climate data collection and reporting systems, and enable Pacific Island countries to meet their obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement.
Why Climate Transparency Matters for the Pacific
Pacific Island countries are among the world’s most climate-vulnerable, confronting rising sea levels, extreme weather, and economic challenges, despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions. Accurate and transparent climate reporting is critical for these nations to access climate finance, monitor progress toward their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and build resilience.
“These projects underscore the Pacific’s unique position: low emissions yet high vulnerability,” said Mr. Sakiusa Tuisolia, Pacific Regional Director at GGGI. “They highlight the urgent need for global climate action while strengthening local capacity to respond effectively.”
CBIT Validation Workshop in Palau. Photo credit: GGGI Pacific
Building National Climate Transparency Systems
The CBIT projects will enable Tonga, Palau, and Samoa to develop and institutionalize Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems, ensuring compliance with UNFCCC requirements and timely submission of Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs). They will also promote collaboration across government agencies, civil society, and development partners, fostering integrated approaches to climate transparency.
Expanding GGGI’s Regional Impact
These launches build on GGGI’s ongoing Pacific work, including a CBIT project in Fiji (2022–2026) and support for mobilizing CBIT initiatives in the Cook Islands. GGGI is also assisting Tuvalu and the Republic of the Marshall Islands in accessing CBIT funding, further expanding climate transparency across the region.
Executed in partnership with national governments and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the CBIT projects ensure alignment with both national priorities and global standards.
CBIT Climate Support Tracking and Reporting Training in Fiji. Photo credit: GGGI Pacific
Expected Impacts
The CBIT projects will deliver transformative outcomes:
- Enhanced MRV systems for greenhouse gas emissions and climate actions.
- Strengthened institutional capacity for climate data management, including centralized national repositories.
- Increased compliance with UNFCCC reporting requirements, enabling accurate BTR submissions under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF).
- Improved stakeholder engagement and knowledge sharing among Pacific Island countries.
- Greater collaboration across government agencies, civil society, and development partners.
These initiatives will help Pacific nations track progress on their NDCs while advancing broader sustainable development goals.
GGGI’s Commitment
“Transparency is the cornerstone of effective climate action,” said Mr. Tuisolia. “By supporting Pacific Island countries to build strong transparency systems, we are helping them fulfil global commitments while driving local climate resilience and sustainable growth.”
GGGI remains dedicated to working closely with governments and partners to ensure these projects deliver meaningful, lasting impacts and reinforce the Pacific’s leadership on climate action.
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For more information, visit: https://gggi.org
Mihwa Wi, Senior Program Officer
Pacific Regional Office
Kelly Vacala, Communications and Knowledge Sharing Lead
Pacific Regional Office