Papua New Guinea has reaffirmed its leadership in climate action at the COP30 Climate Conference taking place in Belém, Brazil. Prime Minister James Marape has called for urgent global measures to protect essential tropical forests and ocean ecosystems during the World Leaders Climate Action Summit. He highlighted the necessity for equitable climate funding and enhanced international collaboration, referring to forests and oceans as “the lungs of the Earth” and emphasizing their critical role in regulating the climate and supporting life.
Marape stressed that for Papua New Guinea, climate adaptation and mitigation is essential for survival, asserting, “For Papua New Guinea, climate adaptation and mitigation is not a choice, it is a matter of survival.” He reiterated the nation’s commitment to the Paris Agreement, particularly focusing on Articles 5 and 6, which acknowledge the significance of forest conservation and engaging in carbon markets.
With an impressive 35 million hectares of rainforest and approximately 7% of the world’s biodiversity, Papua New Guinea plays a pivotal role in environmental protection. The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the assistance from partners like the United Nations, France, Australia, and the Coalition for Rainforest Nations in the country’s conservation pursuits.
On his visit to Brazil, Marape engaged with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to establish a cooperation framework focused on advancing climate action, food security, renewable energy initiatives, and biodiversity protection. Lula endorsed Papua New Guinea as a “natural partner” in these vital efforts to protect tropical forests.
Marape also introduced the “Pacific-to-Amazon” initiative, aimed at uniting ocean and forest nations across the Pacific and Latin America to tackle climate and sustainable growth collaboratively. This proposal seeks to enhance cooperative actions addressing common environmental challenges.
While assessing the progress of the Paris Agreement, Marape urged wealthier nations to honor their financial commitments to forest nations, insisting that “Our forests deserve proper conservation financing.” He advocated for the ambitious Baku–Belém Roadmap, aiming to generate $1.3 trillion annually for developing nations by 2035, while pushing for significant reforms in financial systems to create fair climate funding frameworks.
The Prime Minister highlighted Papua New Guinea’s status as carbon-negative and committed to halting deforestation, rehabilitating degraded lands, and safeguarding marine reserves from illegal activities. He outlined potential carbon credit projects through the Earth3 Platform, emphasizing the importance of benefiting local communities economically while preserving forests.
Marape’s ardent message to fellow leaders was unambiguous: “If this generation of leaders fails to find real financing solutions for forest nations, history will judge us harshly.” He reminded the audience of the singular nature of Earth, urging immediate collective action with the statement, “There is no planet like Earth… This planet is worth fighting for. Let us save it together.”
In closing, Marape reaffirmed Papua New Guinea’s commitment to the global environmental mission, emphasizing that the battle against climate change increasingly centers on protecting humanity alongside safeguarding natural resources. By fostering international partnerships and sustainable strategies, Papua New Guinea is setting a promising example for global climate action efforts.