Papua New Guinea ready to address Climate Change issues

PAPUA New Guinea is well advanced in its preparations and efforts towards addressing issues concerning forestry and climate change compared to other Pacific nations, an official says.

The chief technical adviser to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, Dr Hitofumi Abe, said this in Port Moresby during a national stakeholder consultation workshop on PNG’s first biennial update report.

According to the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA), the report (BUR) contained updates of greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories (statistics of emissions from all sectors of the economy) and provided vital information on climate change mitigation actions, needs and challenges and the support received in the country.

The report is expected to be presented to the United Nations Framework Conventions on Climate Change (UNFCCC) towards the end of this year and is in line with PNG meeting its obligations under the Paris Agreement.

Abe said the report was important because it contained information that PNG could rely on with confidence and convenience to negotiate and seek assistance to address impacts of climate change.

“Information is power and with the first BUR being completed for the country, PNG now has a very strong information that can assist the country to negotiate for climate financiers, assistance from donors and multilateral partners and from other countries,” he said.

“It is indeed a milestone achievement for PNG.

“I can say that PNG is well advanced in its preparations and efforts towards addressing issues concerning forestry and climate change compared to other Pacific Island nations.”

The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was pleased to assist Papua New Guinea with the report, said JICA representative Takeshi Enoki said.

Source: The National newspaper