Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister, James Marape, has openly criticized the ongoing Cop climate summits, stating they are “long on talk and short on action.” However, he has decided to participate in the upcoming meeting of world leaders in Brazil, having previously withdrawn from the 2024 summit in protest against the inaction of larger nations regarding climate change support.
Attending the annual UN climate summit in Belém, Brazil on November 10, Marape expressed optimism about “encouraging signs” from developed nations regarding climate finance, which played a significant role in his decision to join this year’s discussions. “I did not attend Cop29 because these meetings were often long on talk and short on action,” he remarked, signaling a cautious optimism for Cop30. He emphasized that Papua New Guinea, as both a victim of climate change and a source of solutions, will advocate for fair climate financing for landowners and greater acknowledgment of its forests and oceans.
Marape’s comments resonate with ongoing critiques that major emitting nations have not sufficiently addressed climate action, a sentiment recently echoed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. At a recent gathering, he condemned world powers for succumbing to fossil fuel interests instead of prioritizing public welfare. Guterres warned that surpassing the crucial benchmark of 1.5 degrees Celsius outlined in the Paris Agreement would signify “moral failure and deadly negligence,” leading to dire consequences.
With Papua New Guinea being one of the most vulnerable nations to climate change, occupying a significant portion of the world’s third-largest rainforest, Marape underscored the dual role his country plays as a steward of the environment. He expressed hopes for increased collaboration with Brazil in fields such as agriculture, energy, and technology, while outlining plans to enhance hydropower capabilities and promote PNG’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to regional partners.
Marape also announced support for a joint Australia-Pacific bid to host Cop31 in 2026, even as criticisms surround Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for not attending this year’s summit. Environmental advocates in PNG plan to closely observe the summit progress, with voices like Pamela Avusi from the Environmental Alliance calling attention to the need for the PNG government to curb illegal and unsustainable logging practices that exacerbate environmental issues.
As climate discussions unfold, the hope remains that genuine cooperation and commitments from both developed and developing nations can lead to actionable strategies to combat climate adversity. The upcoming Cop30 offers an opportunity for enhanced dialogue and results, reflecting the urgent collective aspirations of Pacific nations striving for environmental justice and sustainability.