‘Training vital for climate change’

FORTY-five people attended a two-day disaster preparedness and climate resilience workshop at Aviamp in the Anglimp-South Waghi electorate of Jiwaka last week.
It was conducted by the PNG Rural Development Inc (PNGRDI) and funded through the Australia climate micro grants.
Association director and founder John Ezekiel described the workshop as important to impart knowledge to people residing in the rural areas to help in the fight against climate change.
“The workshop’s aim was focused on climate justice and inclusivity to empower women and people with disabilities,” he said.
Ezekiel said the PNGRDI workshop educated attendees on the impacts of climate change and how to take action using their local knowledge.
He said participants and the PNGRDI officers identified several climate risks in their respective villages and used the training to address those risks with a community-based response.
Ezekiel said 80 per cent of the population lived in rural areas and PNGRDI identified a need for capacity building to help those communities adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change.
He said PNGRDI worked with the rural communities to promote social justice and sustainability.