By HARLYNE JOKU
THE Clinton Foundation has offered to assist PNG in addressing the climate change issue and the preservation of PNG forests under its carbon and poverty reduction CPR) programme.
Chairman of the Clinton Foundation Ira Magaziner said at a reception last Tuesday evening that PNG has the third largest cover of forest in the world that needs to preserve.
Mr Magaziner said there was scientific evidence now that climate change and global warming is worsening and that countries need to act now to counter the effect or it would be catastrophic.
He however, added that preservation must not be in conflict with development and economic progress of PNG.
Mr Magaziner said he had met with the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare who has shown an interest in the proposed partnership on the CPR programme.
Mr Magaziner said the United States had been one of the main perpetrators in creating the carbon crisis.
ìWe have generated a lot of carbon gases into the atmosphere and have not played a key role globally to address this,î he said.
He added that Clinton Foundation was trying to get the US government to change its policy and reduce carbon emissions in its cities.
Mr Magaziner said PNG had a key role to play as well in managing and planning the development of its forests products.
He concluded that following his talk with Sir Michael, he was optimistic that PNG’s progress in addressing the Climate Change and Carbon Emissions issue will be positive.