Climate change framework soon

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Friday July 19th, 2013

 MINISTER for Forest and Climate Change Patrick Pruaitch told parliament a new legislative framework that could control and regulate climate change issues such as carbon trade in the country would soon be finalised.

Pruaitch said since no law governed climate change, related proposals on carbon trade could not be facilitated.

He said that in response to a question from Kagua-Erave MP James Lagea, who asked about the status and progress on the issues of carbon trade, as more than 14 local level government wards in his province were covered with thick forest that ended on the border of Karamui, Chimbu and Kikori and Baimuru in Gulf.

Pruaitch said it was difficult for his people from these isolated areas to access government services to improve their lives but they had virgin rainforests that could benefit them through the carbon trade. 

He said since 2005, there had been great interest in the carbon trade because some “carbon cowboys” were going around convincing people to sign up for this while the country did not have a policy guideline on the issue was in place because no leadership was provided then.

He said under his leadership, a new climate change policy and legislative framework was to be finalised by the end of the month and would be brought before Cabinet and then to parliament. 

“The policy framework will guide how we deal with the carbon trade. Until we have a policy, we’ll allow the carbon trade work and discussions to proceed,” Pruaitch said.