---
title: Tonga coated in ash from volcano, with communications cut off
description: Over the weekend a massive volcanic eruption in Tonga coated the country in ash, with tsunami waves swamping the island and communications cut off.
---
[](https://www.greenpeace.org.au)
[](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy)
The Canopy is a weekday morning email newsletter provided by the team at Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
# Tonga coated in ash from volcano, with communications cut off
Monday, 17 January 2022
Over the weekend a massive volcanic eruption in Tonga coated the country in ash, with tsunami waves swamping the island and communications cut off. Our thoughts are with the 80,000 people caught up in this catastrophic event.
In Australia, gas producers are crowing over current high prices, but the rise of cheaper, cleaner renewables is set to trip them up in the near future. Meanwhile, a new report from The Australia Institute finds that WA’s gassy behemoths like Woodside pay almost no royalties to the West Australian state, in payment for poisoning its oceans and wrecking the climate.
[WA’s offshore gasfields pay almost no royalties and stoke carbon emissions, report finds](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/17/was-offshore-gasfields-pay-almost-no-royalties-and-stoke-carbon-emissions-report-finds)Australia Institute report finds state received only $430m of its revenue from industry that generated $27bn in exports last year
[Pacific volcano: Ash-covered Tonga is like a moonscape say residents](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-60009944)A massive volcanic eruption in Tonga that triggered tsunami waves has smothered the Pacific islands in ash, cut power and severed communications.
[Energy crisis lifts LNG giants, but future of gas ‘under pressure’](https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/companies/energy-crisis-lifts-lng-giants-but-future-of-gas-under-pressure-20220116-p59ojf.html)High gas prices and the rise of renewables will create difficult conditions for the fossil fuel
[The sustainability roles that employers are paying big money for](http://link.newsletter.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=76fKcEeh4PVItpSA9Cs-2FOEMGnd77r-2F-2FG-2BxtUbsljffpOmNl6jT-2BkMchtskQWQbf-2Bjq05Yvir-2FGufDy8WoRaciTXVu95PIWFlAKAGMgegRnNFpTq1j0nVTgpzDfJmtYR3GHoRod2nq9oOcZq-2ButJkq-2FWhNX4AIpWxElbyMlpUZ6j2N8hjHEfrMffunIJyKN-2Fgr1Xfvi2tNOycV9EO4lkGz2v7xlJjB1SYowqoA-2FQNiHOgAQY73ZEkNPXNdWChCRvl2POsxlJ-2BVIiYfo0rjnXLE-2FN3I18OT1RGDZ1FM-2FtRTAggmBjBDXg24gbR6Rcn0jg1eyvdL5EQUM0W3usQuyvZb-2BCMRAnpPNdrWCl4eS-2FYqi3Y7D6PP5Gk4KSbl9-2FfQwpqQ4s70jqA8hVRiVBJus6JqgCof6uWwvZUqlBvVFFpRJv-2BQ2YP-2FG1ApmS4KUxwtbO0kW6BFs21NekEaIh8n0K6PSOGfmlVrrxYFMSy3hCtwTfup7umubSmPOFB3kx1zkIxYDD-2Fwgbr17qdh-2FNrIIci2i4oF3Tp7JnL9bFQJ5kfNX4j10FGX-2BW3P6EUKcTXYj1uyEtqVVv24iBy3ltOK5WGcqEwCgo06CE7J00HEzvL9hX7qFbU7KQStSdS134AKSGDYXNcyfDSRHmfkAhdo53GU933aIl22-2FtLdnBHj-2FJj4kNr2Rw-2B3oI3cItttqtAT3dec44eIggXDjJUnj-2BCP0woWid8JZ2E17Nh-2BM8hX2PvgKZYsCE0H5hinxsW42Tel2VGN6ObHyc1yC7ex4i-2FoJbU-2BQ-3D-3D0odb_phcJM9ByNNX6Qh3ejjqXmun6IAaDhqC7v9tBWdyDVwHBJNIpiovf9GVZzDamNCgxfLw27GXvnBPsL7GgH8wMQKrtXND2mLsLMygyz1agCLU8MU6ZHZnFl1pJElD8GOe7ojup-2BhBBxXp-2BKcG21pPxtdxVIEz5V6fO-2Fg4FyiNKj-2FNJKTTGTVrtVWqavPttHtWScfYPbIhIfXoIYZ5Vdzo8YZDIswUrbfISEoY4m0Q3AYZWrdZT0ltWNgCATNjqFC6oVp-2F7RSLBy5naafTsfgAwO3GkruHlO0JVPfTqEj0myzaUBJfF-2B5ms2IbAgWZ-2FrRi9bhTZhbM9WtrOQWppzjYHwgdB2P-2BdO7OG3N4ekNacp5NPQkViKnLdRSFKHoyplL-2FW)Pressure from investors has motivated Australian employers to offer generous salary packages to professionals who can help them drastically cut their carbon emissions.
[Disaster funding flows the wrong way in Australia: report](http://link.newsletter.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=76fKcEeh4PVItpSA9Cs-2FOEMGnd77r-2F-2FG-2BxtUbsljffpOmNl6jT-2BkMchtskQWQbf-2Bjq05Yvir-2FGufDy8WoRacidEdCMnEC-2B-2F2Kfjht8DGgawUIh3DULwNwViyhHb89Any2D0ol6NjazeaHQTS8ow81-2BxWmQWQnv6QRDsXI4Sn7y1g-2F5y7e0MsSuFN5VVTDiduKYc6v7AMYSFVyj7Is81j7kWw5yzxk2Ww0k8WlgoT9PepBGj0M-2BCGExpDT11iZ5E3qJDHi6Ui4kzclzWN1eLKnZsBBfySsuHu3gdg390XB2sINVn5CbrpGOak79Pn5HNTTHkyjTuDvXDAKAesavLs5VgEcwUpc3HghA6XocAtnuSc9mPk-2Bjxmap-2B6rUUEb4Pri3KR2HHWrIfIGLNgZuUA4zfhAUCwVQXFkjKZmoVfuJ7U-2FjJCbcgxz5LGD1UwzmhMt0xq8Nvagcy9NYqdaWrxW5XXdAJHnLMulnsWsoCrGHJwBDJOJHZDV3s4urjZU3xnLIDoIiNxozU4KscetTPMenn-2FQJqkLzazzmOZKFoFy3AaM9uk-2Fvs4KPhn9CTk3iuSVUY-2F5dUZRMOoTXZbTa9mkebyBndsWJUYna1L-2Bi3sL4cTPNOPGqvnqeoAEuans-2BYi3OWdAvHWeSyrSUx1UTVLn-2FVU5pYRMkrwOTpLuUyCAqMhIzqOsBCWQnBcDWseR2QpfagfySG7eM1Gu8gvGIWz-2FRcyUMD4Is-2BREAH9znZX66vqljPTSGZL4sKWV2MLTv6Fe5TBPxkRobl5KfaKaaIHDg-3D-3DADcK_phcJM9ByNNX6Qh3ejjqXmun6IAaDhqC7v9tBWdyDVwHBJNIpiovf9GVZzDamNCgxfLw27GXvnBPsL7GgH8wMQKrtXND2mLsLMygyz1agCLU8MU6ZHZnFl1pJElD8GOe7ojup-2BhBBxXp-2BKcG21pPxtdxVIEz5V6fO-2Fg4FyiNKj-2FNJKTTGTVrtVWqavPttHtWScfYPbIhIfXoIYZ5Vdzo8Ybw-2FcK2z9Jmf1rsjCJshHRDxM9F3iHaJcb-2FztFWcCLV4q4DC-2FCm6T6vA7YnpkKa0u5VUoCrD4CxFiO403f6wv5UK7aEZ5iPU1pTFA-2B4innOTpxe89J0gWEOm6acODuLgFdtwtSyZ0BJ9n-2Ffml7XAa-2FsXAnz6vj-2BoDz2GULRKiGRU)Almost all taxpayers’ money for natural disasters in Australia goes to the recovery phase, with only three per cent invested in preparation and mitigation, a new report reveals.
[Chevron Is Hiring Journalists for Its ‘Newsroom’](https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2022/01/chevron-is-hiring-journalists-for-its-newsroom/)The oil giant is looking for journalists to build a “newsroom” to greenwash its activities
[climate change](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/climate-change), [Pacific](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/pacific)
### Will you share with your friends?
[Share on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tonga-coated-in-ash-from-volcano-with-communications-cut-off%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [Share on Whatsapp](whatsapp://send?text=Check%20out%20this%20thing%20from%20Greenpeace!%20https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tonga-coated-in-ash-from-volcano-with-communications-cut-off%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dwhatsapp) [Share on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tonga-coated-in-ash-from-volcano-with-communications-cut-off%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tonga-coated-in-ash-from-volcano-with-communications-cut-off%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=)
[Go to the website](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/)
## More news
### [As COP26 opens, Morrison is forced to defend his climate efforts](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/as-cop26-opens-morrison-is-forced-to-defend-his-climate-efforts)
For the next two weeks we’ll be bringing you all the news from the COP26 Summit, which has opened...
### [Climate justice campaign gains momentum as Pacific braces for third La Niña](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/climate-justice-campaign-gains-momentum-as-pacific-braces-for-third-la-niña)
The campaign to take the human rights impacts of climate change to the world’s highest court has...
### [States to oppose Morrison's CoalKeeper proposal](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/states-to-oppose-morrisons-coalkeeper-proposal)
In today’s news, the Morrison Government will face pressure the states over its plans to slug...
Work like this is only made possible by our supporters. Greenpeace accepts NO government funding or corporate donations to remain impartial. To amplify meaningful climate activism in Australia, ***become a regular giver today.***
[Donate to Support Greenpeace](https://donate.greenpeace.org.au/)
[](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/)
Connect with us
**Call:** [1800 815 151](tel:1800815151)
Our team acknowledges that we meet and work on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We wish to pay respect to their Elders — past, present and future — and acknowledge the important role all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within Australia, the environmental movement and the Greenpeace crew.
© Greenpeace 2026. [Privacy Policy.](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/privacy-policy/)