TONGA is pressing for stronger investment in climate-resilient schools and education systems at the COP31 climate talks in Türkiye, contending that education and children’s welfare deserve a larger share of international climate finance.
‘Isikeli Oko, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Education and Training, is representing Tonga’s education sector at the United Nations conference in Antalya, which runs from 09 to 20 November 2026.
Oko will push for education to be treated as a vital component of climate adaptation, while also seeking more substantial and dependable climate finance for at-risk Pacific nations, the Ministry said.
He described education as one of the strongest tools available for building resilience, noting that it remains insufficiently addressed in climate talks and climate finance spending. He added that funding for climate-resilient schools, climate literacy and children’s wellbeing is critical to Tonga’s future.
The Building the Climate Resilience of Children and Communities through the Education Sector (BRACE) Project, financed by the Green Climate Fund and delivered by Save the Children alongside the Ministry of Education and Training, is supporting Oko’s trip to the climate negotiations.
The project seeks to reinforce education systems in Tonga, Cambodia and South Sudan through climate-resilient school infrastructure, early warning systems and the incorporation of climate risks into education planning. In Tonga, it is designed to help schools and communities prepare better for climate-related hazards while making sure that students don’t fall behind in their studies.
Oko urged that children’s rights, wellbeing and resilience, including support for essential services alongside education, like health, water and social protection be priorities for climate financing.
The BRACE Project has demonstrated how climate finance can bolster education systems and help communities adapt, he said.
The COP31 negotiations take place as Pacific Island nations continue to press for greater international backing to tackle climate impacts and build adaptive capacity. The Ministry said Tonga will keep advocating for accessible climate finance and wider recognition of education as a cornerstone of climate resilience across the Pacific.
Source: PACNews
