Climate issues affect all, minister says

 By LAZARUS BIRA

CLIMATE change is real and is everyone’s business, Minister for Forest and Climate Change Patrick Pruaitch says. 

He told participants of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change national communication validation workshop in Port Moresby that many nations had serious climate change impacts. 

Pruaitch said PNG was an active member of the Coalition of Rainforest Nations and it should work with member countries to have a collective voice at the UN convention to show what we were doing to address climate change issues.

He said people were watching natural disasters occurring in nations as a result of climate change.

“The northern hemisphere is experiencing severe winters. Parts of China for instance experience negative temperature of 40 degrees celsius.

“In the southern hemisphere, bush fires kill animals, even people, and destroy properties.

“In the tropics, volcanoes and flash floods have caused havoc to many businesses and lives.”

Pruaitch said the impact of climate change as a result of human activities was a big concern.

He said PNG was engaged in the Global Green Growth Institute which supported economic activities and 

sustainable development to address climate change while pursuing development.

Pruaitch urged the participants of the workshop to be frank in their discussions keeping in mind proper context so the outcomes of the workshop reflected the true situation.

The national communication is a report submitted to the UN on what PNG is doing to address climate change every four years.