Lowy Institute

Young professionals sought to strengthen Aust ties

The annual Australia-Papua New Guinea Emerging Leaders Dialogue will be hosted by the Lowy Institute in Cairns from 3 to 6 December 2018. Nominations are now open, with up to ten young professionals from each country selected to take part in the three-day event.  

"There are lots of connections between Australia and Papua New Guinea that go back decades," said Jonathan Pryke, the Director of the Institute's Pacific Islands Program. "Through the Dialogue we work to make sure those ties continue for the generations to come."  

PNG, Aust speakers meet on sustainable futures

The Australia-Papua New Guinea Network and the Australian High Commission hosted experts from a range of sectors to workshop topics in sustainable development and the environment. 

 Participants included representatives from government, business and civil society who discussed shared environmental challenges and opportunities for innovation and improvement.

Discussions included Indigenous resource management and practices, climate change, regulatory frameworks for environmental management and intersections between the environment and private sector.

PIF communique shows a united Pacific - thinktank

The 46th meeting of the Pacific Island leaders ended in Papua New Guinea last week with a repeat of calls to tackle climate change.

Small island states like Kiribati say developed nations like New Zealand and Australia should set their emissions target at 1.5 degrees but the two countries remain set on two degrees.

Jenny Hayward-Jones from the Lowy Institute says the resulting communique will still bring a strong Pacific voice to COP21.

PIDF declaration seen as strong political move

Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says the PIDF has never been stronger and will sign a Suva Declaration, described as a common position on climate change, to take to a global meeting in Paris.

Jenny Hayward-Jones from the Lowy Institute says if the Pacific Islands Forum was to try to do a similar declaration, there could be confusion about which reflected the region.

Hayward-Jones says the timing of the PIDF move, a few days out from the Port Moresby meeting, makes a strong political statement.