UN Chief Commends Papua New Guinea‘s Climate Leadership
Port Moresby, Papua New guinea (AP) – United Nations secretary-General António Guterres lauded Papua New Guinea’s role as a global leader on climate change Wednesday, during the first-ever visit by a UN Secretary-General to the South Pacific nation. The visit precedes Papua New Guinea’s 50th anniversary of independence from Australia on September 16th.
Addressing Papua New Guinea’s Parliament, Guterres highlighted the nation’s ability to build consensus through dialog as a key lesson for the world, a skill demonstrated as gaining independence. He further emphasized Papua New Guinea’s “bold climate action” as a second crucial contribution.
“Climate leadership doesn’t always come from the wealthiest and most powerful nations,but from those who directly experience the consequences of a changing climate,” Guterres stated.
He specifically recognized Papua New Guinea’s support for the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion in july, which affirmed that inaction on climate change could violate international law and that impacted nations might potentially be entitled to reparations. The ICJ’s unanimous ruling,backed by all 15 judges,is being hailed as a landmark moment in international climate law. The initiative was spearheaded by Vanuatu and supported by over 130 countries.
Guterres acknowledged Papua New Guinea’s status as a carbon sink, noting its forests and surrounding sea prairies absorb more carbon dioxide than the nation emits.
Prime Minister James Marape responded to Guterres’s address, pledging that Papua New Guinea’s progress path would be “green, resilient and inclusive.” Marape reiterated his long-held belief that nations with higher carbon emissions bear a “moral obligation and greater duty” to address climate change, and previously criticized the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement under former President Donald Trump.
While praising Papua New Guinea’s environmental contributions, the UN Chief did not address the nation’s export of liquefied natural gas as 2014 and its plans for expansion of the fossil fuel industry.
Experts note that Papua New Guinea’s effectiveness as a carbon sink may have been diminished by decades of deforestation. Paul Barker, Executive Director of the Institute of National Affairs in Port Moresby, pointed to uncertainties surrounding land use changes under government-approved “forest conversion agreements.”
Papua New Guinea, with an estimated population approaching 12 million (according to the Papua New Guinea Statistics Office, with the most recent thorough census completed in 2000), is the most populous country in the South Pacific after Australia’s 27 million. The nation is also remarkably diverse, boasting over 800 indigenous languages.
