Funding restrictions have prevented the delivery of specific climate change mitigation and adaptation actions in the country. However, Papua New Guinea is rated the tenth most vulnerable country prone to the negative effects of climate change.
Today a three-day workshop began which sees different sectors learning about and how to access the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
As climate change continues to be evident in the country and around the Pacific, the global movement to both mitigate and adjust to the effects of climate change is picking up speed.
Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) Managing Director Ruel Yamuna said, “Our role as the national focal point for the Green Climate Fund is to coordinate with all these partners on what their priorities are and help them access consistent and adequate climate funding from GCF amongst other climate funding sources.”
The workshop is a platform to strengthen partnerships, and talk about the status of the establishment of the Green Climate Fund.
Mr. Yamuna added, “We just finished off on the regional consultations for the GCF. We engaged with different stakeholders on what their priorities were and what their challenges were in terms of accessing much needed financial support, capacity building and technology transfer amongst others in terms of how we can engage more effectively with the communities in the provinces through their Provincial and District Administrations.”
The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), in this particular project, is the delivery partner alongside CCDA in facilitating to build capacity of CCDA to bring financing for the country to address climate change.
GGGI Country Representative for PNG Green Growth Planning and Implementation, Dr. Achala Abeysinghe, stated that “Climate change is a major crisis for the country because of the vulnerability that the country is facing due to serious impacts of climate change.”
The Green Climate Fund is a global account that supports mitigation and adaptation projects.
However, it requires countries to establish their own GCF program and procedures within the country.
Dr. Abeysinghe said, “PNG is a leader in the international level of addressing climate change but we have a lot more to do.
She added, “For developing partners like GGGI it’s very important for us to work together with the government under their guidance and direction to go into the provinces as well as all the communities and people in the country to build their resilience as well as help them to build their livelihood in a more greener climate compatible way.”
The next two days will be all about sector priorities, GCF criteria for establishment in PNG and strengthening climate change partnerships.
By Lillian Sopera Keneqa – EMTV News, Port Moresby
