MEDIA RELEASE
2 May 2008
For immediate release
AUSTRALIA AND PNG PARTNERS ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Australia and Papua New Guinea are natural partners when it comes to working on the issue of climate change, according to Australia’s Acting High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Ms Ann Harrap.
Ms Harrap was speaking at a climate change workshop hosted by the Media Council of Papua New Guinea (MCPNG) at the Hideaway Hotel in Port Moresby on Friday. Ms Harrap officially opened the workshop, which featured presentations from a number of climate change experts from the University of Papua New Guinea and was attended by around 30 members of the media.
Ms Harrap talked about the importance of Australia and Papua New Guinea working together to address the challenges climate change poses. “Both countries are high per capita carbon emitters, although the primary source of emissions is different – coal-fired power stations in the case of Australia, and deforestation in the case of PNG” Ms Harrap said.
Ms Harrap also highlighted the ‘PNG-Australia Forest Carbon Partnership’ signed by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare during Mr Rudd’s visit to Papua New Guinea in March this year.
The partnership, she said, has three elements: first, PNG and Australia will engage in a strategic policy dialogue on climate change, with a particular focus on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, or REDD for short. Second, Australia will help PNG develop its own national carbon accounting system - which is critical if PNG is to participate effectively in global carbon markets. Finally, Australia and PNG will work together to maximise participation in global carbon markets.
“We will share our experiences as we develop our own credit schemes, and Australia will help PNG in identifying and implementing incentive-based REDD demonstration activities” said the Acting High Commissioner.
Ms Harrap echoed Prime Minister Rudd’s comments on the bilateral relationship during his visit: “The time has come for us to turn a new page and write a new chapter in the Australia Papua New Guinea relationship”, she said.
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