Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a step closer to complete significant guidelines which will support its efforts in mitigating the impacts of climate change through Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation, known as, REDD+.
During a workshop hosted by Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) today in Port Moresby, four guidelines referred to as the REDD+ Safeguards Guidelines were validated by CCDA, its partners and key stakeholders.
The guidelines include, REDD+ Development Guidelines (RDG), Benefit Sharing Distribution System Guidelines (BSDS), Grievance Redress Mechanism Guidelines (GRM), and the Free Prior Informed Consent Guidelines (FPIC).
CCDA’s REDD+ and Mitigation Division General Manager, Ms. Gwen Sissiou, highlighted the development of these guidelines as a significant step to adequately address critical issues such as the rights of local people, their participation, preservation of natural ecosystems, among others as PNG implements its REDD+ activities through policy-based interventions.
“The Safeguards guidelines were developed in order to ensure social and environmental risks are minimized and that benefits from REDD+ activities are enhanced in the country.
“The guidelines are also a prerequisite for PNG as a country participating in REDD+ under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),” said Ms. Sissiou.
The CCDA through its REDD+ Branch, have developed and completed the specified safeguard guidelines to strengthen PNG’s adherence to UNFCCC safeguard requirements. The development of the guidelines was through extensive regional consultations with key stakeholders during the third quarter of 2021 with funding and technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Project.
Mr. Bir Mandal, the Head of FAO PNG, said, “Conserving PNG’s forest through REDD+ implementation will help communities for sustainable development and contribute globally on biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. FAO will continue supporting the REDD+ progress in PNG.”
CCDA Acting Managing Director Mr. William Lakain expressed the validation of the four REDD+ Safeguards Guidelines as a significant progress for PNG and commended development partners and key stakeholders involved in the formulation of the REDD+ Safeguards Guidelines.
“I express my gratitude towards the development partners, stakeholders from both the public and private sectors for supporting CCDA through the review process of the REDD+ Safeguards Guidelines.
“With that being said, CCDA looks forward to continuously working with you all into the future”, said Mr. Lakain. The Government of PNG has continually pursed a viable means of minimizing greenhouse gas emissions whilst nurturing economic development.
Minister for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Wera Mori who officiated the workshop said the Government of PNG’s vision through the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) for REDD+, is for the mechanism to act as a Catalyst to transformational change within the forest and land use sector whilst aiming towards a new and responsible economy with lower Greenhouse Gas emissions.
“The outcomes of today’s discussions will be critical towards ensuring the Government of PNG’s continues to pursue its vision for REDD+,” he said.
“I urge you as the relevant stakeholders to utilize today’s forum to guide and strengthen the Government efforts towards ensuring practically in our approaches, I also encourage open dialogue today and move toward regarding the development matters at hand,” Mori said.