Climate Change is an emerging global threat and it is important to have climate proof infrastructures available in Papua New Guinea, says Climate Minister for Environment Conservation and Climate Change Simo Kilepa.
Minister Kilepa said this during the ground breaking ceremony Alotau Provincial Climate Proofing Wharf on Monday, 26th September 2022.
The K36.7million project is an initiative of the Climate Change and Development Authority through its Building Resilience to Climate Change (BRCC) project and is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Minister Kilepa said the Marape-Rosso Govt has prioritize infrastructure development as the number one agenda for PNG.
“With the theme of Connecting PNG, we intend to bring socio-economic development to as many people and many places across the country. We do not want to leave any place or person behind. We want to give every man, woman and child the opportunity to participate in and benefit from the development processes.”
“With the evidence of Climate Change, there is increasing intensity and frequency of the adverse effects of Climate Change. You see it all around you, here in Milne Province- Storm surges, sea level rise, cyclones, coastal erosion and so forth, which really affect infrastructures including our wharves and jetties,” Minister Kilepa said.
He said; “It is therefore important to climate proof critical infrastructures like this provincial wharf which I believe will serve two-thirds of the population of this maritime province, who commute to and from the islands and atolls to buy store goods and sell their produce in Alotau market.”
“The lessons learnt from this climate proofing investment will help us to replicate in other 13 provinces of PNG. I will discuss with colleague Ministers of works and transport, PNG Ports and others to come up with new climate resilient standards and designs that will withstand the adverse effects of climate change, Minister Kilepa said.
“Climate poses a serious challenge for PNG, going into the future. It is important that we mainstream climate change adaptation into all development planning processes both at the National and Provincial level to be able to ensure our critical infrastructures are intact.”
He said it if very expensive to build wharves, airstrips and roads. If we can climate proof them then they will be sustained and can achieve our development goals and priorities.
Minister Kilepa said the people of Milne Bay will be the first to have a climate proof port infrastructure.
This ground breaking ceremony indicates the birth of a new climate resilient wharf in the country.
“On behalf of the Marape-Rosso Govt and as the Minister responsible, I extend our gratitude and appreciation to the Government of Australia and the Asian Development Bank for this good gesture and look forward to our continued development and partner going forward.”
This Project is scheduled to take about 9 months to complete and is due to start by next month. I therefore expect the Climate Proofing of Alotau Provincial Wharf Project to be completed by June 30th 2023.
Milne Bay Province Deputy Governor Lelena Metao in his speech said the Provincial Government has also taken ownership of this project and provided its support towards this project in K2mil in funding and in technical support towards the temporary walls and retaining walls.
“We are not just recipients but also active partners in this project together to seeing its full completion,” he said.
“This project when completed will certainly be one of the first in the country in Milne Bay to address Climate Change Impacts.
This is very important to us, due to the rising sea level affecting many of our maritime transport infrastructures across the province and our livelihoods in our rural communities on the costal mainland and islands, said Mr Metao .
He said this wharf will last longer and be able to assist the people especially in transporting goods, cargoes and passengers across the many islands of the 4 districts of the province.
“The design of wharf will also help our mothers and the disabled people access this facility, which is a very good thing for our people,” Mr Metao said.