First protected areas forum starts today

THE first national protected areas forum will be held in Port Moresby starting today. The two-day forum will be culminated in a summit on National Environment and Climate Emergency in the lead up to this year’s World Environment Day on Saturday. The National is a supporter of the summit. The events and activities are aimed at amplifying awareness on the environment and climate change. They are also aimed at strengthening support from the city and country in taking sustainable actions to mitigate climate change and making contribution to the global effort. The initiatives are jointly hosted by the National Capital District Commission, United Nations Development Programme and its sister agencies, the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority, Climate Change and Development Authority, Amazing Port Moresby, Active City Development Programme and other key stakeholders and sponsors. The organisations will host other related forum and activities in the lead up to the World Environment Day. NCD Governor Powes Parkop said as the island of New Guinea was the host of the third largest tropical rainforest in the world, Papua New Guinea had a moral and ethical obligation to the global efforts in mitigating effects of environment and climate change.