The PNG Government through the Climate Change and Development Authority recognizes the importance of blue carbon as the next best solution for greenhouse gas emission.
Blue carbon is simply the term for carbon captured by the world’s ocean and coastal ecosystems. You have probably heard that human activities emit (or give off) something called carbon dioxide, which contains atmospheric carbon.
Climate Change and Development Authority is hosting a three days workshop with the purpose of understanding blue carbon activities that are taking place in PNG as well as the challenges , gaps and barriers.
The Blue Carbon Workshop is facilitated by experts from key development sectors through panel discussions and presentations and streaming live on CCDA social platforms through these 3 days of workshop.
The theme for the workshop is; “Identifying Blue Carbon Ecosystems as a source to enhance low carbon growth, climate resilience and sustainable development.”
Ms Debra Sungi, Climate Change and Development Authority Acting General Manager said the Blue Carbon refers to the role of the coastal ecosystem particularly mangrove forest, seagrass meadows and tidal salt marshes and estuaries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions due to their capture of organic carbon dioxide.
“The diverse ecosystems of PNG in the blue carbon space is not explored yet, so we don’t have data, that scientifically is to say that we do not know how much carbon content we have in a particular area.”
“We have the biggest area and that is something the government acknowledges which is why the workshop is trying to bring together actors that are involved in the Blue Carbon space ‘’, said Ms Sungi.
This workshop attracted academics, project developers, government agencies, NGOs and all those working in the blue carbon space coming together for this workshop.
Ms Sungi stated that this workshop is simply getting all these actors together and establishing at the end of the workshop a framework on how best they can develop a policy that is inclusive, that is effective and can be implemented in our country, and that is that basic aim of the workshop.
She also highlighted that two biggest developers that came on board are the Australian Government and the Government of Germany who are assisting CCDA in developing the policy of Blue Carbon thus providing equal support too.
Sungi further stated that despite not having set up a policy framework, there is already work being done in the communities, in the provinces as well as at the national level.
“So it’s best getting everyone here to the workshop so that we can develop this policy to address our commitment, our obligations and at the same time bring the nature base solution for climate change and also ensuring that we conserve, and restore coastal eco-systems for our people especially, our village communities along the coastlines.”
Blue carbon activities are a type of nature-based solution that aims to restore, protect, and sustainably manage mangroves, seagrass meadows and tidal marshes.
There are several blue carbon activities that are currently taking place in PNG. Such activities have contributed to reducing PNG Green House Gas emissions.
So by the end of this workshop all stakeholders and partners should re-affirm their commitments to decide better, coordinate smartly and access resources actively in partnership towards developing a Blue Carbon Policy framework in PNG.