Climate change a threat to country, minister says

National

CLIMATE change is a threat, especially to Papua New Guinea, because of its many islands, Environment and Conservation Minister Wera Mori says.
“Papua New Guineans, particularly islanders, should, therefore, treat the threat seriously by planting trees and mangroves to check or reverse climate change,” he said.
Mori said mangroves took in 10 times the amount of carbon dioxide in the enviroment and many of our island coastlines, especially those in the New Guinea Islands, were eroding.
“The Pacific Island countries, including PNG, are, feeling the effects of air pollution that developed and industrialised countries have contributed to,” he said.
“Despite having 70 per cent the country being covered by tropical forest, the World Health Organisation’s recent data shows that PNG’s air purity is moderately harmful.
“Inhaling such poisonous air leads to many heath diseases.
“We should now plant trees, mangroves and ban logging in the country.
“The sea level is rising, extreme weather events, water shortage, increase in draughts and health issues are among the affects being felt.”