Green climate officials to visit next month

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, October 30, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

THE visit of officials from the US$10 billion Green Climate Fund, will open Papua New Guinea to the opportunities in funding geared toward climate change affected developing countries.

Announced in Friday’s parliament session- Minister for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change, John Pundari, the visit is a direct reaction to the government’s signing of an agreement with the Green Climate Fund that grants immunity and privileges to staff of the global fund.

Minister Pundari said the visit would enable the country to develop the right capacities and systems in place for the country access finances that can only be available to the country once proper systems are put in place following the country’s ratification of the Paris Agreement.

“The instrument for ratification was already deposited in September. PNG being the 23rd country on the planet to ratify the Paris Agreement through the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) Papua New Guinea is ready to implement.”

“This includes the receiving of capacity building assistance, technology transfer, and climate finance from developed countries to assist the mitigation of climate change and adaptation to the effects of climate change on local communities.”

“I am glad to announce that the Green Climate Fund officials will be in Papua New Guinea next month to hold a workshop with CCDA to build capacity and carry out outreach to relevant stakeholders and state agencies on accessibility to climate finance through CCDA as the national focal point of the green climate fund.”

Minister Pundari thanked Foreign Affiars Minister Rimbink Pato and the national government, who signed on behalf of the State for the Green Climate Funds Privileges and Immunity Agreement, which will enable the Green Climate Fund’s senior officials and technical staff to travel into Papua New Guinea.