‘K2.5m for PNG team to Copenhagen talks’

SERIOUS allegations have again surfaced in Parliament over the Office of Climate Change and Environment Sustainability that PNG will spend around K2.5 million (US$800,000) to take a delegation to Copenhagen, Denmark, next month.
Eastern Highlands Governor Malcolm Kela-Smith also claimed in Parliament that another US public relations company had been engaged to support a media event at the same conference that will cost PNG another US$80,000 (K250,000).
Mr Kela-Smith, in his queries to Environment and Conservation Minister Benny Allan during Question Time, said his interest in carbon credits was only for the benefit of landowners.
“I am aware that PNG will spend US$800,000 to take our delegation to Copenhagen.
“I am also advised that our climate change ambassador is supporting a media event which is being organised by a US public relations firm to provide awards to other countries and will cost PNG US$80,000.
“I have also been told an extraordinary UN-REDD policy board meeting last Oct 26 had a PNG Government request for US$3.8 million of UN-REDD funds.”
Mr Kela-Smith said he understood that PNG did not have much to present at the conference and McKinsey teams from Malaysia, Australia and the UK had been engaged to conduct low carbon development pathway, climate adoption and REDD studies for PNG.