There is more to do to fill the gaps in dealing with the effects of the increase in temperature especially in terms of weather and climate changes in Papua New Guinea.
PNG National Weather Service director Samuel Maiha says PNG has a long way to go in making social and economic sense of climate services with the change in climate.
The average global temperature change for the first three months of 2016 was 1.48°C, essentially equaling the 1.5°C warming threshold agreed to by COP 21 negotiators in Paris last December.
Maiha said the increase of 1.5 degree Celsius will give the NWS the first guess of what to expect this coming monsoon season.
He said PNG is still lacking the capacity in providing seasonal climate outlooks for a short and medium term.
Maiha said that with the increase in temperature, there’s going to be a lot of weather hazards and PNG needs to prepare for it.
There’s going to be impacts in terms of lives and property loss due to flooding and decrease in crop yields that will be brought about as a result of the 1.5°C increase.
“The impacts of the increase in temperature that will have on agriculture and fisheries are not very good for PNG in terms of food security.
“Globally, there’ll also be an impact on rice, wheat, corn and fisheries resources.
“In addressing this, we’re optimistic about improving the services that we provide in terms of short and medium term seasonal outlooks and down scaling climate change projections,” Maiha said.
Picture courtesy of PNGNWS