UN ACCEPTS PNG's CLIMATE ACTION INITIATIVES

By Ben Kedoga in New York, US


New York, US, The United Nations has formally accepted Papua New Guinean's Climate Action Initiatives at the Compendium of the Nature Based Solution (NBS).
The formal recognition was accepted at the NBS Momentum High level event during the 74th United Nation General Assembly Annual General-UNGA meeting in New York.

The NBS Momentum High level event was convened by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, featuring Heads of State and Ministers, and leaders from international organizations, civil society, private sector, youth and indigenous peoples, among other key stakeholders.
In preparing for the 23 September 2019 Climate Action Summit called by the United Nations Secretary-General, the Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) Coalition put out a global call for initiatives on how NBS can be enhanced and scaled-up.
The call attracted 450 initiatives , however only 180 proposals were received and posted online prior to the Summit in which PNG's three initiatives were considered and accepted.

PNG's three initiatives were listed 122-124 on the United Nation's Global Compact website, this includes;
1. Sustainable Forest Management - Sustainable Land Use Planning, Forest Management and Improved Agriculture Practice (Papua New Guinea,
2. Fossil fuel abatement for Diesel-based Power Systems, an Action to meeting SDG 13 through Sustainable Electricity in PNG and,
3. Scaling up of hydropower/solar energy in Papua New Guinea.
PNG's Minister for Environment Conservation and Climate change, Geoffery Kama says its a big achievement for the country.

"This is a tremendous achievement of PNG in the United Nation Summit on Climate Action. The initiatives will set the scene and offers opportunities for PNG to leverage support to implement these initiatives back in the country ", Minister Kama said.
Meantime, the Head of PNG Delegation and Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Soroi Eoi commended Minister Kama and the country's Climate Change Development Authority, CCDA for their efforts in ensuring PNG got the green light from the UN.

"This is actually what we are here for and this also paves the way and have shown leadership in the region that we as a country with the largest population and vast natural forest have shown to the global communities that we are serious in addressing climate change, Minister Eoi said.
Minister Eoi stressed that, " This in itself is a major achievement to have the Initiative package and presented to the world for support and investment into initiatives that are applicable and scalable to all parts of the country".