Sensing item needs funds to function

A 37-METRE remote sensing terminal is sitting idle at the University of Papua New Guinea because it needs K500,000 to K600,000 to have it up and running for data collection.
Data collection is still a problem for PNG, senior technocrat Noel Mobiha said.
He was making reference to the remote sensing terminal  donated by the Indian government in 2010 but is still packed in the container it arrived in.
He said there were no proper databases available to monitor outcomes and “it seems the government is not serious to commit money to such equipment that can help with real time data”.
“To realise the output of Vision 2050, it is critical to have such an instrument in place to assist in the planning process or use in times of disaster for corrective measures to be taken,” Mobiha said.
He said the government should not depend on outdated data over two to three years old.
Prof Chalapan Kaluwin, the UPNG environmental science strand leader, is seeking financial help from the government, development or donor partners.
He said data collection was crucial in their strand of studies, particularly when climate change had a big impact in shaping the way people lived today.
These remarks were raised during a meeting with a team from the USAID regional Low Emissions Asian Development programme who was keen to see how the programme could help government, businesses and institutions develop a proper framework to sustain low emissions development.
This five-year programme is designed to build capacity and develop low emission development strategies (LEDS), GHG inventories and accounting, and carbon market readiness in the Asian-Pacific region, including PNG and 10 other countries.
As many environmental and climate change issues are regional by nature, the programme takes a regional approach to facilitate Asia-Pacific cooperation and knowledge sharing, to replicate best practices, promote LEDS and encourage private-public partnership.
The USAID programme has been re-established for the South Pacific region, with its regional office in NCD.
Acting executive director of Vision Development Centre (VDC) Tony Keket welcomed the consultation process and gave an overview of the government’s policy with Vision 2050 as the overarching policy direction that cascades down to development strategic plan 2010-30 and medium term development plan and the provincial development plan.