MP: Data on climate change’s impact needed to secure funds

By LULU MARK
ENVIRONMENT and Conservation Minister Wera Mori says quality data and assessments on the impacts of climate change are needed to secure money from the Global Climate Fund to support affected communities.
He said this in response to questions from the Sumkar MP Chris Nangoi on what the Government would do regarding damaged roads and people moving inland on Karkar Island due to rising sea level.
Nangoi questioned when the odour pollution from fish canneries in Madang and Lae would be addressed.
Mori said from the outcome of the recent COP26 meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, there were some outcomes to address loss and damage of those communities that were impacted by climate change.
“Karkar is one, but, also there are other communities such as the coastline of Bougainville, Cateret Island – the sinking of the low-lying atolls in Manus, Milne Bay and other parts of the country,” he said.
“It is one that we must be able to have quality data and assessment so that we can be able to draw this money that is now being promised in the Global Climate Fund to address such situations.”
Mori said a visit would be made to Karkar Island to establish the status of the situation.
He said the sea level was rising about 3.34mm per annum, but now, we are seeing situations and instances where it had gone up to over 7mms per annum and this was where the concerns were.
“I would also like to inform Parliament that climate change is real and we now will be not only having communities along the coastline being impacted but our economy,” he said.
Mori said the fishing industry would be affected because the oceans were becoming acidic which would consequently result in the loss of fishing grounds, especially for tuna.
He said the RD Tuna cannery was governed by a specific environmental permit.
Mori said he would review the status of the permit to determine its limits and whether or not any follow-up investigations could be conducted to establish the activities of the cannery.