“It is important for the 22 provinces in Papua New Guinea to have a Provincial Climate Change Committee within the respective provinces.
This is from a team from the Climate Change and Development Authority who recently visited the Gulf Province to discuss with the Provincial Administration a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the establishment of Provincial Climate Change Office and Committee.
That’s according to CCDA national communication officer Ms Jacinta Kull.
Ms Kull said the purpose of the visit was to strengthen the establishment of the Provincial Climate Change Office in the Provincial Administration, support the Gulf Provincial Climate Change Committee’s plan and activities, and the Provincial Administration in climate change activities and programs within the Provincial Development Plan and CCDA’s Corporate Plan, and further to ensure CCDA and Gulf Provincial Government has effective collaboration.
“Once the establishment is in place and the MoU to strengthen this process, it allows an effective means of disseminating climate change information throughout the provinces in PNG.”
Meanwhile Ms Priscilla Pep who is also a National Communication Officer added that the Provincial Administrations will play a significant role in implementing the government policies like:
Climate Change Management Act, National Climate Change Policy, National REDD+ Strategy, REDD+ Safe Guard Information System, PNG’s Enhanced National Determined Contribution, 2020; and National Adaptation Plan.
“Capacity programs will soon follow after the MoU signing.”
Ms Pep further stated, “One of the first programs to be rolled out is the Satellite Land Monitoring System.”
“The training will go through overview of PNG near Real-time Deforestation Alerts and Monitoring System and Hands-on demonstration of PNG near Real-time Deforestation Alerts and Monitoring System.”
“This will be the monitoring system to be used at both the National and sub-national level to monitor REDD+.”
Pep added that the CCDA will support at the initial stage in the setting up of the Committee and the Office.
After that Provincial Administrations will continue with the funding of the Committee and the Office though the formal establishment process.
She added that the Provincial Administration in consultation with Department of Personal Management will recruit staff strength.
“The establishment of the Provincial Climate Change Committee and Office is in line with CCDA’s Corporate Plan and Climate Change Management Act.”