Minister for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Hon Simo Kilepa was also part of the delegation to the 78th United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, US. Minister Kilepa and Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso also join other Pacific Island Country leaders in the Climate Ambition Summit.
During the 78th United Nations General Assembly meeting, there were high level Summits like Sustainable Development Goals, Climate Ambitions Summit and General Debate including other key events.
And during the Climate Ambitions Summit discussions were held around a new reform program to enable the Fund to efficiently manage USD 50 billion by 2030.
Revealed at the UN Climate Ambition Summit in New York, the “50 by30” vision sets out to:
Enhance support for the most vulnerable people and communities,
Mobilize private sector participation and investments,
Reinvent the partnership model including the accreditation process,
Expedite project review and approvals and
Pivot operations to prioritize broad scale, system transforming programs over isolated projects.
Minister Kilepa while welcoming this initiative also emphasized that the amount of funds accessed already by PNG is still very insignificant and it is of great concern.
“Having heard from country leaders so far during the Climate Ambition Summit, it is clear that current funding is inadequate to enable swift implementation of adaptation and mitigation activities in Papua New Guinea”, he said.
Minister Kilepa specifically requested for Green Climate Fund to consider developing a special set of criteria to enable PNG and other small island developing states to qualify and successfully draw-down its financial support for priorities including displaced communities experiencing loses and damages due to severe impacts of climate change.
A request was made to the Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Ms. Mafalda Duarte to send a strong message to Accredited Entities to start re-prioritizing and align to PNG’s GCF Country Program and move projects in the pipeline.
Minister Kilepa on behalf of the Marape Rosso Government further extended an invitation to Ms. Duarte to attend next year’s National Climate Summit which will focus on implementation and climate finance.
Minister Kilepa thanked GCF for the opportunity to engage and pledged support to engage more constructively when PNG takes up membership to the GCF Board next year as alternative board member under the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Seat.