Students from Kerema Coronation Secondary and Malalaua Provincial High School were privileged to learn more about climate change from officers from Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) who carried out awareness on Climate Change on the 29th and 30th of March 2023.
The awareness carried out was on the Science of Climate Change and the nine (9) priority areas for adaption.
National Communication Officer from CCDA Pricilla Pep explained the Science of Climate Change in saying that Climate Change wasreferred to an increase in the average global temperatures, natural events and human actives which are believed to be contributing to an increase in average global temperature causing alterations in the earth’s climate at an unprecedented rate.
She said this was primarily caused by the increase insuch as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and other gases posing a grave threat to the environment, people and economies.
“The earth is warmed by these gases in our atmosphere that traps heat escaping from the earth’s surface. The greenhouse gases have increased significantly especially over the last 50 years due to human activities such as deforestation, agriculture and the burning of fossil fuels for power.
“The increasing concentration of GHG in the atmosphere is trapping more heat, raising the average temperature of the planet’s air and oceans and so altering the climate patterns.”
Fellow colleague from CCDA Jacinta Kull added that the effects of Climate Change have already been seen in PNG especially those of coastal flooding, inland flooding, drought, increased prevalence of malaria, damage to coral reefs and the migration of people who are fleeing serious effects.
Students were educated on how to address climate change in their homes and communities.