Climate Change

“We are committed to helping Pacific Islands manage both sudden-onset impacts of climate change, such as major storms, and slow-onset impacts such as sea-level rise,” states the Office of the Spokesperson, U.S. Department of State. “To date, USAID has helped Pacific Islands countries unlock more than $500 million from international organizations such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Adaptation Fund, and the Global Environment Facility.”

They re-committed to immediately curb greenhouse gas emissions – of which the region accounts for over half of the global emissions.

“The global climate fight will be won or lost in this crucial decade; in this context, the resolution demonstrates the commitment by countries in the region to take faster and bolder climate action to ensure that their climate goals are met,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP at the closing.

Climate reporting is an important tool for promoting transparency, accountability and for informed climate actions.

Led by Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) with technical support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the workshop was a key step under phase two of PNG’s Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) project.

The project, called Mangoro Market Meri, is focused on restoring local mangrove habitats, empowering women in the community, and driving outcomes on climate change.

Papua New Guinea is home to 33 out of the 80 species of mangroves globally, making it the country with the highest mangrove diversity in the world.

The project is being carried out in Bootless Bay in Port Moresby and has received support from The Nature Conservancy Australia, World Wildlife Fund, and Save the Children Australia.

Jacob Ekinye said going forward they will need to integrate mainstream Climate Change issues into the sectoral development plans, with the help of all stakeholders including development partners.

Ekinye announced during a press conference that they be roll out the NAP to the national and subnational levels in two phases.

The General Manger for Adaptation & Project Design, said during a media conference that there are two approaches to Climate Change; Mitigation and Adaptation.

Jacob Ekinye announced recently that a National Adaptation Plan was a requirement of a Paris Agreement Implementation Act, from the 2016 Paris Agreement.

Key points:

• Scientists are working to scale up seaweed production in Australia
• Seaweed can be used as food for humans and animals
• Scientists say it has the potential to address a variety of environmental and climate change challenges

University of Queensland School of Earth and Environmental Science PhD candidate Scott Spillias's study found expanding seaweed farming could help reduce demand for terrestrial crops.

Originally from Rigo District in Central Province, Lydia’s interest in climate change started when she joined UNDP in 2012.

She saw first-hand the challenges of identifying different climate change impacts and solutions for different communities and regions.

She applied for an Australia Award on impulse when she was working with the PNG Climate Change Authority, with the full support of her employer.

Anthony Albanese, while addressing the PNG parliament, added that our Pacific neighbours are counting on PNG and Australia to support international co-operation to show leadership and to take action.

He said, “There is not a moment to waste. It is up to our generation to protect the precious and unique natural environment of our rainforests, reefs and coasts. To build – and plan – our infrastructure so our communities are more resilient and better prepared for natural disasters.”

In its efforts to build resilience to disasters, the Northern Provincial Administration, through the Northern Provincial Disaster Centre, continues to work in partnership with the National Disaster Centre, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and partners, to implement disaster risk management (DRM) initiatives.

Such initiatives include disaster awareness, drills, and community-based disaster risk management planning and implementation.