PNG tackles global warming

 By SONIA KENU 

PAPUA New Guinea is addressing global warming through efforts to reduce gas emissions domestically, the Office of Climate Change and Development (OCCD) says.

OCCD mitigation policy analyst Nidatha Martin said this in a presentation on how the division coordinated Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD), the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks. 

Martin said the division with the help of stakeholders acted against deforestation by coordinating initiatives that were laid against the forestry and agriculture sector. 

“The initiatives include reduced impact logging, reforestation and forest conservation, review of agriculture leases, land use planning and commercial plantation on non-forest land among others,” she said. 

“Low carbon growth is another mechanism we use to reduce gas emissions but to continue to pursue our economic interests. 

“This mechanism aims at switching from power to renewable energy sources like solar, hydro-electric power and generation of heat from the earth (geothermal). 

“We have resources to make this happen however, we lack funds and capacity to fully achieve this dream.”

OCCD national communication policy analyst Joe Pokana said trying to simplify technical terms to suit the understanding of local communities remained a major challenge for the OCCD. 

“We hope to work more closely with the media and those who can voice out the correct message to our local population,” he said.