By HARLYNE JOKU
ENVIRONMENT and Conservation Minister Benny Allen said he is committed to enforcing the new strategic directions of the department which was launched last Friday at the Airways Hotel.
Mr Allen said the new strategic directions aimed to create a balance between economic growth and environment sustainability, and to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation of the climate change initiative.
Mr Allen said the current Government was committed to ensuring that the trend towards increasing environmental degradation was reversed.
He made the remarks at the occasion of the handover of the environment and conservation minister by the former minister William Duma to him which coincided with the launch of the Department of Environment and Conservation’s new strategic directions publication.
“The challenge for PNG is not only to ensure environmental sustainability but to do so in a manner that provides economic opportunities,” he said.
Mr Allen said the climate change initiative was developed to assist developing countries with large areas of rainforests to benefit from the market mechanisms being developed to reduce global carbon emissions.
He said the funds derived from trading in carbon would be used to assist in the protection of PNG’s globally significant rainforests and to promote sustainable development of PNG rainforests.
Mr Allen said his first international engagement, which he accompanied the Prime Minister to attend the United Nations general assembly meeting in New York, was focused on the need to urgently tackle climate change issues and reduce global carbon emissions.
He said he came away from the meeting with a clear understanding of the urgent need to prepare for the likely negative impacts of climate change as well as opportunities for PNG through carbon trading.
He said he was determined to work with his colleagues to develop an effective Government strategy to prepare PNG for the challenges that lie ahead.