ABG embraces clean, green solutions

The Autonomous Bougainville Government is embracing clean and green solutions in its communication work on the referendum.

Bouagainvilleans must be prepared to vote on the referendum that will decide their political future. The business of raising awareness and communicating important information needs different avenues to reach everyone and one of those solutions is digital messaging.  

With the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through its Peace Building Project, the ABG recently installed solar-powered billboards at each of the newly-constructed Community Information Centres (CICs) in Buka, Arawa and Buin.

By the year 2020, over one-quarter of the world’s energy will be produced by renewable sources, with renewables continuing to become cheaper, more reliable and more efficient by the day.

The centres, run by ABG’s Bureau of Public Affairs, Media and Communication, act as a one-stop-shop for visitors to learn about the work of the ABG and the National Government on the referendum and implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.

The solar-powered billboards will showcase awareness videos and key messages for the people of the Autonomous Region, and support both ABG and National Government in communication efforts.

Not only is this work ensuring that the population across North, Central and South Bougainville are better prepared and informed to make the decision they want as they move closer to the referendum target date in 2019, it also champions the UN’s Sustainable Devlopment Goals (SDGs) and the call to move away from our reliance on these traditional sources of power.

Tirnesh Prassad, peace building fund coordinator (officer-in-charge), said: “Not only are we seeing important messaging being broadcast via these billboards, we’re also showing what can be done through the use of a renewable, green energy source.

“Goal 7 of the SDGs focuses on affordable and clean energy. In Bougainville we see lots of hot, sunny days so let’s harness this to our advantage and do our bit to help realise Goal 7 by 2030.”

This project is supported by the United Nations Peace Building Fund.

The fund is currently supporting more than 120 projects in 25 countries to ensure that peace is maintained via a peaceful means.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is powering the clean and green revolution in Papua New Guinea (PNG), ensuring that our reliance on fossil fuels and traditional sources of energy, both of which are incredibly harmful to the environment, are also a thing of the past. 

Author: 
Press release