International climate body granted access to PNG

The PNG Government has granted special immunities and privileges to officers of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) so that funding for climate change projects is available.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Rimbink Pato, announced this following his recent trip to the United States along with Minister for Pubic Service, Puka Temu and a PNG delegation.

He said accessibility to funding has always been an issue for PNG and other Pacific neighbours and allowing personnel from the global environmental body in PNG was a step in the right direction.

“We have signed an agreement making entry into Papua New Guinea easier for officials so that our office of climate change will work closely with that organisation, address issues of capacity, the requirements that exist, and they will then draw templates or programs which will assist in drawing the funding which is available for projects in Papua New Guinea,” Patio said.

The granting of these special privileges and immunities is part of the efforts to address climate change issues which was a point of discussion at the 71st United Nations General Assembly in New York, in the United States.

With this agreement PNG will have access to a $ US 10 billion (K32.46 billion) funding from the organisation.

“We need to streamline our processes and work closely with the Green Climate Fund, and the UN agencies here such as the UNDP, UNICEF, and the other organizations to make sure that we can benefit from these opportunities that exist globally,” said Pato.

The GCF is operated under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and answerable to the United Nations.

The GCF was established by 194 countries, by investing in low-emission and climate resilient development, to limit or reduce greenhouse emissions in developing countries and helping vulnerable societies adapt to impacts of climate change.

Picture: Minister Rimbink Pato signs special privileges and immunities with GCF Executive Director, Javier Manzanares (right), at the UN Headquarters on  September 25, 2016. (Source: Green Climate Fund)

Author: 
Cedric Patjole