Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea (PNG) has reaffirmed the nation’s strong commitment to tackling climate change globally. During a prominent United Nations event focused on climate change, conveniently co-hosted with Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Marape emphasized PNG’s active role in the lead-up to the pivotal COP30 negotiations scheduled to take place in Brazil.
The event drew global leaders and climate advocates, seeking to create momentum for decisive action at COP30. In his address, Marape lauded the leadership of UN Secretary-General António Guterres and congratulated President Lula for drawing attention to the critical roles that forests and oceans play in the global climate strategy.
Marape articulated PNG’s unique position in the climate dialogue, viewing the country as both impacted by climate change and instrumental in offering solutions. He highlighted PNG’s stewardship of significant natural resources, including the world’s third-largest tropical rainforest and diverse marine ecosystems, both acting as crucial carbon sinks. Although PNG’s carbon emissions are minimal, its rich biodiversity plays a key role in maintaining the planet’s ecological balance.
The Prime Minister outlined ambitious national climate objectives, such as enhancing their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets, achieving net-zero deforestation by 2030, and developing a national policy to safeguard mangroves and coastal ecosystems. These efforts necessitate significant investments, estimated at $7.7 billion by 2030, with a focus on expanding renewable energy and building climate-resilient infrastructure.
In light of these initiatives, Marape urged for enhanced international cooperation, calling on developed nations to meet financial commitments, boost technology transfers, and support vulnerable countries like PNG with dedicated funds. He also advocated for public-private partnerships to combat global deforestation trends by 2030.
Marape expressed PNG’s solidarity with other forest and ocean nations, reiterating the significance of preserving forests and oceans in their natural states to sustain life and mitigate climate impacts, underscoring the need for joint international efforts for global survival.
Prime Minister Marape’s commitment underlines PNG’s continued leadership in climate action, resonating with the country’s ongoing advocacy as highlighted by previous endorsements from UN Secretary-General António Guterres during his visits to PNG. This reaffirmation enriches the global climate change dialogue and emphasizes the urgency for unified action at COP30 and beyond.
Overall, the congregation of international leaders offers a hopeful outlook for significant global advancements against climate change, stressing the essential roles of nations like Papua New Guinea in guiding these transformative efforts.