16 percent increase in rainfall to by 2030: OCCD

Caption:  Flooding along the Magi Highway during the week.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, March 15, 2015 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

OFFICE of Climate Change and Development Executive Director, Varigini Badira revealed that by 2030 the country would have increased rainfall by as much as 30 percent.

He raised his concern that the global climate change phenomena was no longer a theory and its effects were so obvious and is a constant global topic of discussion.

“As we sit here there are major governments who are debating within government and legislative circles to reform current practices, current policies, and current regulation so that they can better address the impacts of Climate Change.”

“I guarantee you 150 percent that what you see here today is an additional impact of climate change.”

“16 institutions globally have done global climate modeling from London all the way to the US, Japan, China, and they found out that rainfall in Papua New Guinea is going to increase by a factor of 6 to 16 percent by 2030,” Mr Badira said.

He said that it means that with more extreme more rainfall expected in the future- droughts will be equally extreme.

Badira said that the National Government and country needs to position itself for the future in terms of climate proofing its development.

“If we spend K100 million on a bridge we do not have to spend that amount again in the next 10 years,” he said.

“If we do not plan for climate change that means that the bridge you build today will be destroyed in 5 years time.”

“Now you have to plan for climate change- if the rainfall increases by 6 to 16 percent that means flooding will also increase along with sea level rise, our temperature will get a little bit hotter and when it gets cold our temperature will be colder.”

He said by 2030, sea levels are to rise by 0.6 meters to 1.2 meters.

“Once that happens some of our flat areas will have sea water incurring like what happening in some of our coastal areas- and everyone has to take the leadership and we cannot say wait tomorrow.”

“The government, through the Ministry of environment and conservation, has gone ahead and approve the National Climate Compatible Management Policy of our country.”

“This is the blueprint on how all provincial governments and how all districts and local level governments must address Climate Change.”

“If it is half a million to K1 million you are spending- we must climate proof that development. That is why the government calls it climate compatible development under the National Responsible Sustainable Strategy that was also approved by the government.