As the 28 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) underway in Dubai, Minister for Environment, Conservation, and Climate Change Simo Kilepa, emphasized during a high level Ministerial meeting yesterday that building resilience to climate change for smaller Island developing states affected by climate change including Papua New Guinea is critical and adaptation efforts must be capacitated and accelerated.
“Papua New Guinea’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) was launched in April 2023 and is poised for implementation. As one of few countries in the Pacific region to have a NAP, the NAP is a country framework designed to address vulnerabilities to climate change impacts in key sectors such as agriculture, health, transport, and infrastructure.
“The NAP strategically builds upon PNG’s existing policy and planning landscape, steering development planning towards a ‘climate-resilient’ trajectory. Its implementation aims to significantly reduce the country’s vulnerability to climate change impacts”, said Minister Kilepa.
Minister Kilepa, highlighted that issues such as funding constraints, technological gaps, and limited public-private partnerships, and institutional capacity building for climate change adaptation initiatives are gaps that need both international and domestic attention.
“While appreciative of financial and technical support from our development partners, we need a country-driven, long-term adaptation financing program to complement our ongoing initiatives in the country,” Kilepa explained.
Expressing concern over the inadequacy of resources from climate financing mechanisms, including the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Minister Kilepa urged for an increase in financial support for the implementation of the NAP.
“The Government of Papua New Guinea remains steadfast in addressing climate change, as exemplified by the formulation of the NAP. However, mutual partnerships are crucial to building resilience in our impacted sectors to adapt to climate change impacts.”
He called for tangible commitments from relevant stakeholders, including developed countries, the private sector, and development partners in accelerating the implementation of the NAP for PNG including other smaller island states.
