Help reduce climate change effects

Climate change is an issue affecting the entire globe, but the effects can be reduced if each individual starts making better decisions for the good of the planet.

This was a key message during a March 22nd panel discussion at the Catholic Bishops Conference in Port Moresby, led by the Social Communications Commission.

Sub Regional Country Representative for Catholic Relief Services, Matthew McGarry, said the issue of climate change was one that needed to be immediately addressed as it was growing, and individually we could do our part to reduce it.

However, McGarry said because climate change was a bigger global issue, it would need actual political intervention to solve the problem.

“Individually we can try to address the problem, but it can’t do much because climate change is now a political problem that needs a political solution,” he said.

Former National Religious Education Coordinator Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, Sr Helen Warman OLSH, said although climate change was a global issue it did not necessarily require a political intervention.

She added that the effects could be significantly reduced if every individual started making better choices in how they consume and dispose rubbish, to eventually reduce the effects of climate change on the environment.

“Climate change does not require a political solution for its effects to be reduced, instead it’s up to every individual to start making right choices to help with reducing the issue. Individually climate change can be reduced,” she said.

The panel discussion was aimed at addressing the effects of climate change and various social issues being faced by many Papua New Guinean societies.

The Carteret Islands, for example, are sinking because of the rise in sea level; one of the many consequences of climate change.

Author: 
Press release