Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 3 October 2022 – A two-day National Climate Change Summit was successfully convened in Port Moresby on 11-12 September 2022, reaffirming Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) climate adaptation and mitigation priorities. PNG is the largest island state in the Pacific and is known for its rich natural resources’ endowment and biodiversity, but it is also faced with a wide range of climate change challenges which impacts on the safety, security, and livelihood of their people, both in urban areas and rural villages and communities.  The Summit which was the first to be hosted by the Government of PNG was intended to chart a clear pathway forward on how best the country can address its climate change challenges and opportunities.

National Climate Change Summit plenary session, Hilton Hotel, Port Moresby

The Summit which was attended by over 150 participants from the public and private sectors, development partners, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and civil society representatives was co-hosted by the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) and Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and funded by the Australian Government (DFAT), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Kina Bank.  GGGI had provided support to CCDA in planning, organizing, and running the Summit as well as the drafting of the Summit communique.

The Summit was opened by the new Minister for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change, the Honorable Simo Kilepa, who explained that the purpose of the Summit was to bring together the Government and all partners and stakeholders that work in the climate change space to identify key challenges and opportunities for addressing climate change in PNG.  The Minister added that the Government’s Vision 2050 and the Medium-Term Development Plan already provides the country with a clear direction of what PNG needs to do to address its climate challenges through climate mitigation and adaptation measures, but it is critical that timely actions are taken and aligned through close collaboration and the coordinated efforts of all actors and partners.

Sakiusa Tuisolia, Country Representative GGGI PNG delivering keynote remarks at the opening ceremony of the National Climate Change Summit, Hilton Hotel, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Participants were represented in a series of panel discussions and their consensus on climate priorities and actions were reflected in a Summit Communique which was later signed by Minister Kilepa.  The Communique was aligned with the national climate policies of PNG and was a clear statement of intent on how PNG intends to address climate change through climate adaptation and climate mitigation plans together with the mobilization of a blend of international and domestic inclusive green and climate finance.  The target areas of intervention include renewable energy, forest conservation and reforestation, sustainable coastal management and blue economy, e-mobility, climate resilient agriculture and infrastructure, and carbon trade and offset schemes. Gender equity, disability and social inclusion was identified as a priority cross cutting area of intervention across all target areas. CCDA will coordinate the national efforts on climate action and PNG will rely on donors technical and financial support to assist its efforts.