Review of National Climate Compatible Development Management Policy, 2014

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By: Solange. OVIA

 

THE NATIONAL CLIMATE COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY 2014

 

 

Introduction

 

Papua New Guinea’s Climate Compatible Development Management Policy was introduced in 2014 under the government of than Prime Minister Honorable Peter O’Neil, CMG MP, and former Minister for Environment & Conservation and Climate Change Honorable John Pundari, MP, in collaboration with the Office of Climate Change and Development (OCCD) now known as Climate Change Development Authority (CCDA). This department plays a vital role in the implementation of safeguarding strategies to address the issue of climate and somewhat guarantees the climate developments are sustainable for the environment. The enactment of the policy focuses on the gaps that are vulnerable to climate threats and aims to outline the roles and responsibilities managing, instigating and reviewing climate change strategies. It aims for the participation of the indigenous at the community and ward levels while promoting implementation efforts at the District and Local Level Government (LLG) levels. Through the responses, I will give a mixed response according to a few points and readings in this review.

 

 

Summary

 

 In this policy review there are a number of noble discussion points and/or categories, however, I will only focus on three.

 

First and foremost, the National Climate Compatible Development Management Policy background focuses on its rationale, vision, mission statement, and the policy principles. These four main points focuses mainly on the positive outcomes to combat and tackle the challenges of climate change in the country. To a certain extent, these points not just focus on the positive outcomes, rather, promotes fundamental strategies for the environment.

 

Second key point is the policy themes of mitigation and adaptation. These dual theme establishes the core policy themes in the National Climate Compatible Development Policy. Mitigation stirs its emphasis on reducing the greenhouse gas emission from the agriculture and forestry sectors through sustainable practices. Whereas, adaptation centers its prominence to strengthen and boost resilience against the impacts of climate including extreme weather events and rising sea levels via adaptive measures.

 

The third and last point is the monitoring and evaluation. This point functions as an essential part in the policy ensuring activities relating to climate are effectively carried out and sustainable development, climate change mitigation and adaptation are coordinated. This category also acts as a process tracking, assess initiatives impact and identifies the areas for improvement. Monitoring and evaluation reinforce accountability, enhance decision-making, and supports the efficient use of resources.

 

 

 

 

 

Critique

 

This policy creates an opportunity for negotiations and considerations regarding climate change issues affecting the country. According to former Minister for Environment & Conservation and Climate Change Development Hon. John Pundari, MP (2014) actions on Climate Change is integral to robust and resilient economy and is a serious challenge for Papua New Guinea and our government is serious about taking this step in formulating this policy. This implies that Papua New Guinea has recognized the critical connection between addressing the issue of climate change and building a sustainable, resilient economy.

 

Climate Change is a global threat that has embarked on to put stress on various sectors (Abbass et al.,2022), climate change has imposed various environment and life aspects. Some of the key impacts in the country are; agricultural challenges, ecosystem disruption, rising sea levels and health risks which may lead to health costs infrastructure damage among others.

 

The Boe Declaration 2018, has drawn the attention for climate change impacts negotiation among the Pacific Islands leaders to enforce and establish directions that will combat this major issue (climate change). Papua New Guinea’s National Climate Compatible Development Management Policy shares a common interest with the Boe Declaration 2018 focusing on tackling the challenges of Climate Change.

In the context of Papua New Guinea, the rising sea-levels have caused damaged along coastal areas and the islands, for instance, a section of the road along the North Coast Road of Madang Province was by sea in 2024. However, human activities have increased rapidly and may falter the processes. A question often asked is ‘What causes the rising sea levels?’ According to Lindsey (2017) the main reason is that the glacier and ice sheets that are melting and adding water to the oceans contributing to an expand of the oceans as the water warms.

 

Recommendation

 

To state my recommendation on this policy, Papua New Guinea government should review and implement more resilient strategies to monitor the impacts of climate change.

 

Secondly, the authority should establish a team to advocate and organize awareness to educate people regarding the policy and accumulate feedback and responses as an upkeep.

 

To my final recommendation, the government should invest more in building resilience in communities that are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Although, climate change impact has imposed a huge challenge, the National Climate Compatible Development Management Policy aligns with the Boe Declaration to combat the challenges of climate change.

 

 

References

 

Office of Climate Change and Development (2014). Papua New Guinea National Climate Compatible Development Management Policy

               https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/papua-new-guinea-national-climate-compatible-   development-management-policy

 

Abbass, K. Qasim, M. Song, H. Murshed, M. Mahmood, H. Y Ijaz. (2022). A Review of the Global Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation, and Sustainable Mitigation Measures

             https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-022-19718-6

 

Lindsey, R. (2017). Climate Change: Global Sea Level

            http://arizonaenergy.org/News_17/News_Sep17/ClimateChangeGlobalSeaLevel.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

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