PM should have attended meet

WHY is it COP26?
“COP” stands for Conference of the Parties and “26” stands for it being the 26th summit.
The “parties” are the countries that signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – a treaty that came into force in 1994.
The is being held in Glasgow, Scotland, and will be held from Oct 31-Nov 12.
Essentially, Papua New Guinea is a signatory to the UNFCCC and past governments placed great emphasis on the climate change agenda.
We contributed significantly in the formulation of the Paris Declaration on Climate Change.
The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change.
Its goal is to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.
Given our prominence and active involvement in the global cause on climate change, the present leadership must not downplay our standing – that which others have worked so hard to build.
I was dismayed by Prime Minister James Marape shying away from meeting world leaders and marketing our, and the Pacific’s, position at such a huge event.

Using the Coronavirus (Covid-19) as an excuse is not good enough.
To top it off, Marape sent a “barmy army”, with due respect to our few climate change experts on board, who went on an extravagant sightseeing expedition in the UK costing this financially broke country K5 million.
Based on our track record, the world expects PNG to demonstrate statesmanship.
According to Town & Country, Queen Elizabeth, in her welcome address, spoke of the “statesmanship” required to “rise above the politics of the moment”.
She ended her speech with a reminder that these efforts would be for the future generations as “none of us will live forever”.
Of course the Covid-19 is also a pressing issue but PNG has a bigger role to play as a leader in the “Blue Pacific”.
It’s not always about squeezing money at every given opportunity.
That is not statesmanship.
Money will come after we assert our place, gain leverage and then put a joint claim.
A breakout moment at the COP26 was the powerful speech by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley.
Mottley spoke with the same empathy and highlighted the plight of smaller island nations facing climate change challenges, just as she did at the United Nations General Assembly few months ago.
Papua New Guinea has to produce excellence like Barbados and not go backpedaling on domestic matters and concentrate of staying in power with the coming elections.
COP26 was formally opened last Sunday, has been billed as humanity’s last and best chance to prevent the worst of what the climate crisis has in store.
Again, Papua New Guinea has missed the bus and the fault lies with the PM’s and Government’s advisers who aren’t doing their job.

David Lepi