Three members this week have sworn into the Madang Climate Change Committee, making the province the first to have such a committee in place.
This committee will discuss issues strictly on climate change, and report to the National Climate Change and Development Authority (NCCDA) through the Provincial Executive Council.
“We want to make sure that all provinces come up with a climate change committee, that is structured within the provincial administration. What my team will do is provide technical assistance and funding based on your policies and plans,” said National Climate Change and Development Authority’s Acting Managing Director, Joe Pokana.
The composition of who makes up the committee is vital, especially for those already wearing a different hat under the Provincial Administration.
Nonetheless, Pokana said he’d prefer to see the National Disaster Centre and the Climate Change offices working together, so as to cut down on costs.
The Provincial Administrator, Daniel Aloi, gave his word to Pokana that the province is serious about climate change and will make sure the committee is set up, and gets the Provincial Executive Council’s recognition.
“First thing that we will do is to make sure that members of this committee are given due recognition in the PEC, and I can give you my word Mr Pokana that we won’t repeat the past years experiences,” said Aloi.
Those who were present came to an agreement that this provincial climate change committee must have the deputy administrator as a member, a disaster and emergency representative, a planning representative, a CSO representative, a women’s representative, a Madang Chamber of Commerce representative and a representative from the mainstream media.
