In early January, following his recovery from COVID-19, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid a visit to his Papua New Guinean counterpart, Prime Minister James Marape. Both Prime Ministers originally discussed the visit at the Australian Prime Minister’s Rugby League competition. While the goal was to strengthen bilateral ties, Prime Minister Albanese’s trip turned out to be a lesson in climate change.
East Sepik Province Governor Allan Bird and the people of East Sepik Province were honored by Prime Minister Albanese’s visit to the province. His visitation was important and appreciated by everybody.
PM Albanese laid a wreath in commemoration of the soldiers who fought and died on the battlefield during World War II. He also took the time to visit the Pacific Islands Regiment at Moem barracks.
This is where the Prime Minister witnessed the impact that Climate Change had on Papua New Guinea as the route to the office of the Pacific Islands Regiment was one that was very narrow and showed what the rising sea level was doing to the coastal regions and how the extreme weather conditions were affecting the road conditions.
Governor Bird stated that it was a good thing that PM Albanese was able to see the damages done to the road caused by the rise in sea level. He says these are the things that affect not only Papua New Guinea but all Pacific Island people and urges Prime Minister Albanese to continue to voice concerns and help pacific islanders combat the problem of climate change.
Climate change is a major hazard to Papua New Guinea because much of its coastal villages and infrastructure are located at low altitudes, the country is particularly vulnerable to the consequences of sea level rise. Rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns are also expected to have a significant influence on the country’s agricultural and food security. Furthermore, because of climate change, Papua New Guinea is vulnerable to extreme weather events such as cyclones and flooding, which are anticipated to grow more frequent and severe.
Climate change is projected to have a detrimental influence on the social, economic, and environmental well-being of the people. Some of the provinces that are likely to face the most serious impacts of climate change, such as the rising sea levels are Milne Bay, Madang, Morobe, and the East Sepik Provinces amongst many others.
Australia has been assisting Papua SepikNew Guinea in its fight against climate change. The Australian government has funded and offered technical assistance to a few projects and initiatives aimed at assisting Papua New Guinea in reducing glasshouse gas emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change.
For example, the Australian government has provided funding to the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change project, which aims to help Pacific island countries, including Papua New Guinea, to build their resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Australia has also contributed financial support to initiatives in Papua New Guinea aimed at improving building energy efficiency, boosting the use of renewable energy, and decreasing deforestation. Furthermore, Australia has been collaborating with Papua New Guinea on a variety of programs to assist safeguard coastal populations and infrastructure against sea-level rise and other climate-change-related effects.
Australia also has several bilateral climate change mitigation and adaptation agreements with PNG. It also provides PNG with direct funds to execute programs that reduce emissions and assist the country in adapting to the effects of climate change.
Comments