Workshop supports national plan to tackle climate change in Papua New Guinea

Port Moresby, 9 August 2017 – Papua New Guinea (PNG) has taken its first step towards developing a National Adaptation Plan to outline the country’s strategy for adapting to the threats of climate change.

As the climate changes, PNG will likely experience higher risks of landslides, increased inland and coastal flooding, droughts and frost conditions, salt water intrusion, and hazardous sea conditions among other effects.

With more than 80 percent of the population living in rural areas and more than 70 percent of households dependent on subsistence agriculture, the majority of PNG’s population remains vulnerable to weather and natural disaster events.

The Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) is working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to develop a National Adaption Plan (NAP), which will reduce the vulnerability of PNG to the impacts of climate change by building capacity and resilience.

The NAP Workshop held at Crown Plaza from 9-10 August 2017 brought together government departments, NGOs and private sectors stakeholders to review existing policies, programs, and institutions, build upon existing successes and develop a cohesive strategy.

Ruel Yamuna, Managing Director of the Climate Change and Development Authority said: “We are pleased to gather some of the nation’s strongest supporters of climate adaptation together to develop a unified strategy for the future which will help PNG manage some of the impacts of climate change.”

Jacob Ekinye, Director of Adaption and Projects Division of the Climate Change and Development Authority said: “There are many important institutions working hard to fight climate change – we hope that by engaging in a workshop environment we can harness our collective power for a stronger response. We appreciate the support provided by UNDP to further this process.”

Following the workshop, UNDP and CCDA colleagues will develop a  proposal for Green Climate Fund, a global fund dedicated to financing climate change adaptation projects. PNG’s NAP will be tailor-made to its needs and context, with specific emphasis on the country’s existing development priorities.

See the original article on the Papua New Guinea UNDP website.