Tonga Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua has been named among the 2026 100 Global Impact Leaders, using the international recognition to highlight whale conservation and the role of ocean protection in addressing climate change.
Fakafanua received the recognition at the Global Impact Leaders Summit and Honours Ceremony held during COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye.
The awards, hosted by the Global CSR Foundation, the European organisation and Rotary International, recognise leaders contributing to sustainable development and international cooperation.
During the ceremony, Fakafanua highlighted the connection between marine biodiversity, ocean health and climate resilience, calling for whale conservation to be recognised as part of the global climate response.
He used the example of a humpback whale mother leaving Tongan waters to feed in the Southern Ocean to illustrate how migratory species connect marine ecosystems across national boundaries.
He said protecting whales and their habitats required international cooperation and a broader approach to ocean conservation that recognised the ocean’s role in the global climate system.
The recognition also highlighted Tonga’s longstanding commitment to whale protection.
In 1978, the late King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV issued a Royal Decree prohibiting whale hunting in Tongan waters and establishing the country as a whale sanctuary.
Tonga’s Prime Minister’s Office said whale protection was part of the wider Pacific effort to safeguard marine ecosystems, strengthen ocean resilience and protect natural resources relied on by island communities.
“For Tonga and the wider Pacific, climate action must account for the health of the ocean and the biodiversity it sustains,” the office said.
It said the recognition provided an opportunity to bring Tonga’s perspectives on ocean conservation and climate action into international discussions at COP31.
Fakafanua and a Tongan delegation are attending the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, which runs from 9 to 20 November in Antalya.
The Tongan Government said the recognition also highlighted the importance of the Blue Pacific’s contribution to global discussions on climate change and ocean protection.
