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Climate Change

Veraibari, A Village on the Verge of Disappearing

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Old housing standing in front of a destroyed beach.

The majestic Kikori River, one of the life-lines of the Great Papuan Plateau, spanning 144km meandering into the Gulf Delta holds an abundance of flora and fauna that has sustained the local people for generations.

For as long as the Veraibari villagers can recall, they have never felt threatened by this majestic wonder, until recent years.

Mr Tofinga Isaiah remembers a village that once had long sandy beaches and hundreds of mangroves as buffers, protecting the village.

The village sits at the mouth of the Kikori River. The long sandy beach is now, only a memory for Isaiah.

Memories his children and grand children will never have.

As the sea level continues to rise, it floods the basin, pushing water further back inland, affecting villagers that have lived in harmony with the river and the sea for many years.

A picture of a house standing in a pool of water caused by rising sea levels at Veraibari village.

Sea level rise is an effect of climate change, due to the extreme releases of green house gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen into the atmosphere by manufacturing companies throughout the world.

Developed countries emit 90% of the total green house gas emissions.

And while the government cuts deals with developed countries to claim climate funds and donor assistance, the very people suffering from the impact of rising sea levels are left clueless about their future.

A youth leader, Gary Toru said they have a fair idea of what climate change is, but they need help to put a stop to it. He spoke in “tok pisin”.

“Mipla save olsem long overseas, ol kukim planti oil na gas na displa kamapim climate change. Mipla lukim senis kamap long ples so mipla nid long stopim displa climate change”. (We understand that the burning of oil and gas by countries abroad is causing climate change. We are seeing the impact first hand so we need to stop climate change).

Seeing the knowledge gap and its challenges, Piku Biodiversity Network (PBN) has stepped in to assist Veraibari villagers understand the global aspect of climate change and how the impact is felt locally.

Two men looking at a rundown shelter that looks like it used to be a house.

Director and founder of PBN, Yolanie Amepau said it’s important for the impacted villages to understand, that what they are experiencing is the changing of the climate.

“They also have to understand words such as impact and adaptation and mitigation,” she explained.

“The word climate change is new. It’s new to a lot of communities.

“We know a lot of communities that are being dispossessed because of climate change and Veraibari is one of them. Veraibari is a village caught between the river and the sea.

“The workshops we conduct is to understand their interpretation of climate change and how they plan to address the negative impacts”.

The workshop sees representatives from organizations such as Environment Defenders and the Climate Change Development Authority together with Piku Biodiversity working together to demonstrate collaboration in addressing this crisis.

Ms Amepau said the community leaders are looking at relocating the village and that exercise would cost over a million kina; money the villagers don’t have.

But while plans for relocation are on foot, Isaiah thinks the only solution for now, is building a sea wall.

“I think the only solution we believe to help us control the climate change forcing waves, is to build a sea wall. We tried other solutions but it has not worked.”

Fishing net tied to two sticks placed in the centre of a pool of water at Veraibari village.

Isaac said the other land belongs to someone else, they simply cannot infringe. His concern is they would not have the freedom to hunt, make gardens and gather food freely to sustain their families.

While non-government organizations continue to assist with capacity building so villagers are in a better position to help themselves, the solution to protect their village and their people is in their hands.

The Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) unfortunately do not have the funding to assist, despite thousands of kina being committed by donor agencies.

The Acting Managing Director for CCDA, Ms Debora Sungi confirmed that most funds are parked with implementing agencies for capacity building workshops only.

CCDA is in the process of creating policies that will see a 5% equity from Carbon Deals retained by the authority to assist communities who are impacted by climate change.

For now, as negotiations continue at the top level and globally, for communities such as Veraibari village, they will have to summon community resilience and strength that has existed for generations to adapt to the new conditions in the village and also come up with community-based solutions to mitigate the impacts.

**This article was produced with the support of Internews Earth Journalism Network**

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Climate Change

Tuvalu Drowning Within Decades

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Tuvalu Drowning

Tuvalu, a picturesque island nation nestled in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean is currently grappling with a relentless onslaught of storm surges and towering waves, wreaking havoc on coastal communities.

As with most island nations, spring tides occur, in the case of Tuvalu, February’s king tides is nothing like before.  The island’s one main road has succumbed to the fury of nature, submerged beneath torrents of seawater, exacerbating the already dire situation faced by Tuvaluans.

With this year’s storm surges and the rising sea inundating vital transportation routes, many of the island’s inhabitants are questioning their future in the face of unyielding climate crisis.  The only main road, the lifeline connecting communities and providing the flow of essential services recently became an impassable river filled with water, displaced rocks and coastal waste.

The flooding of the main road in Tuvalu has taken its toll on underground electricity generation.  Homes, business and essential services are now grappling with the harsh reality of life without electricity for hours even days.  This not only disrupts daily lives but also poses significant risks to public health safety.  Papua New Guinea, the largest island in the pacific also face such ferocity within its coastal communities.

Scientists have predicted that Tuvalu might be submerged within 50 to 100 years but Tuvaluans are optimistic.  Many young people are questioning themselves whether to continue living in Tuvalu and what the future holds for them and their families.  The spectre of displacement and the ever-present threat of climate related devastation loom large, provoking deep seated concerns about the sustainability of life on the island.

Related: https://insidepng.com/community-awareness-on-climate-change-unre/

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Environment

Community Awareness on Climate Change

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Climate Change Awareness

The Change in weather pattern, where there is high rainfall in a short period of time and prolonged drought, has caused a lot of communities in Papua New Guinea to suffer. This is all attributed to climate change and the shift in global weather patterns.

Communities across the world including Papua New Guinea, are forced to adapt to this new weather phenomenon. Rural communities in Papua New Guinea often lack the capacity to mitigate the outcomes caused by Climate Change.

An initiative by the PNG university of Natural Resources and Environment, as part of their community outreach under the Kairak Center for sustainable rural development, is the Community Empowerment for Climate Change for farming communities.

The University is making sure that communities in East New Britain are aware of the adverse effects of Climate Change. So that they can make appropriate changes to mitigate and adapt to their changing environment.

Project officer Simon Nakaiban says communities need to understand that Climate Change is real and is affecting communities and livelihoods. He added that most in the community are slowly coming to terms in understanding the severity of the effects of changes in Global weather patterns. But some very remote communities still need to fully grasp the messaging of climate change.

Simon Nakaiban explained that as part of their outreach they focus on awareness on food security as one aspect of mitigating climate change. That means introducing improved variety of crops like Sweet Potato and Casava, which Nakaiban pointed out as being drought tolerant.

He also added that they are conducting surveys and collecting valuable data that will be shared among stakeholders. The center is working to make sure that some of their findings can help influence some of the policy decisions made at the bureaucratic level.

Related Story: https://insidepng.com/carbon-trading-benefitting-communities/

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Climate Change

Response to Climate Change

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Bougainville Climate Change

Implementation work on a set of areas outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) are expected to kick off in Bougainville, this month. The MOA signed in July between the Bougainville Government’s Department of Lands, Physical Planning, Environment and Conservation and the National Climate Change Development Authority (CCDA) is desired to counter effects of Climate Change.

Key areas under this Agreement include these four crucial areas:

  1. Activity Plan for Climate Change Action in AROB: The teams will develop a comprehensive strategy to combat climate change in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB).
  2. Capacity Building – ICT and Communications Training: Plans are underway to conduct training sessions aimed at enhancing the technological and communication capabilities necessary for effective climate change mitigation and adaptation.
  3. Establishment of the AROB Climate Change Committee: A dedicated committee will be formed to spearhead climate change initiatives within the region.
  4. Medium & Long Term Plan for Climate Change Policy and Legislation: A robust plan for the development of climate change policies and legislation tailored to Bougainville’s unique circumstances will be devised in alignment with the ABG’s long term and medium term plans.

This actions comes after an initial visit by authorities to Pewana village, Koromira, Arawa Coast, Loloho and Teperoi communities.

In Teperoi Primary School, the land is under imminent threat due to continuous erosion caused by rising sea levels and wave action.

Bougainville Climate Change

The implementation of the MOA reflects the commitment of both the ABG and the CCDA to building a strong foundation for the region’s climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, and a sustainable future in Bougainville.

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Climate Change

Grants for Research Work

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Climate Research Grants

The Australian Government has announced it will support research work towards Papua New Guinea’s Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Policy.

Australian High Commissioner to PNG, Jon Philp said this will be through the form of grants offered to the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA)

These funding support will is aimed at emerging cohort of climate researchers from PNG to deliver evidence-based research in support of PNG’s climate goals.

The grants will support eligible Master’s and Doctoral students in a one year program of research and the findings during the study which will be presented at the Third National Climate Change Summit next year.

It will be delivered in partnership with CCDA, the National Research Institute (NRI), and the PNG Science and Technology Secretariat.

This joint initiative between PNG and Australia is one component of Australia’s dedication to support PNG implement the climate national adaptation and mitigation goals.

Part of this partnership included the facilitating of a team of international experts from the Australian National University to attend the National Climate Change Summit in Port Moresby.

Presentations made by climate change specialists from Australia included topics on climate challenges faced by communities in the Pacific Region and how to identify solutions.

The topics covered blended finance options for climate adaptation, climate justice and social inclusion, and new research to trial carbon trading through coffee farming.

Meanwhile the application information for the climate research grant opportunities will be available on the Climate Change and Development Authority website following the conclusion of the Summit.

Recent: https://insidepng.com/new-climate-change-regulation-to-improve-carbon-trading/

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Climate Change

New Climate Change Regulation to Improve Carbon Trading

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Papua New Guinea has some of the largest areas of forest in the world, but measures to conserve the environment through the sale of carbon credits has been unfair for local land owners in the country.

Recent media reports and investigations have uncovered that most in rural areas in Papua New Guinea have little to no knowledge of the complexity of carbon credits and Carbon trading. In turn they are being taken advantage of by those in the business.

Debra Sungi, the acting General Manager Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) at the Climate Change Development Authority, says the absence of proper regulatory framework has allowed for the exploitation of landowners in rural Papua New Guinea.

(Left) Debra Sungi – Acting General Manager Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV), Climate Change Development Authority and (Center) CCDA Acting Managing Director William Lakain attending a stakeholders meeting on Friday.

A moratorium on the PNG REDD+ Voluntary Carbon Market Project has the Climate Change Development Authority and stake holders pushing for the Climate Change (Management) (Carbon Market) Regulation 2023 to be approved by the Government.

The document was rigorously debated since 2022 and is the answer to the problem. It will aid in the process of carbon emissions trading in domestic and international approach. Guided by international rules under the Conference of Parties COP 26 Article 6.

Carbon Trade
Carbon Trade
Carbon Trade
CCDA and Stake holders meeting held at Hilton Hotel on the 18th of this month.

A stake holders meeting was held at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby on Friday to debate and present the final draft of the Climate Change (Management) (Carbon Markets) Regulation 2023. And also to Validate the Climate Change (Management) (Carbon Markets) Regulation 2023.

The amendment of the regulation has gone into the second stage and as the national designated authority responsible for Carbon Markets, CCDA is certain that the regulation will help make sure maximum benefit goes to the land owners.

Related: https://insidepng.com/research-and-conservation-of-pngs-biodiversity/

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Climate Change

Dialogue on Coffee & Climate Change

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An agriculturalist and researcher say coffee can bring in cash for both economic purposes as well as generating revenue in the carbon space of Climate Change.

Mawe Gonapa, a Ph.D. student in a short presentation told local government authorities coffee packs carbon in its leaves, stems, and even beneath the earth using its roots, thus offering benefits as a cash crop.

“Coffee has the potential to mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration, and if we come together and make our position clear on how to involve coffee in the carbon trade, create relevant guidelines to get it into the carbon trade, and have the carbon credit certified,” Mr. Gonapa said.

The Ministry of Environment Conservation and Climate Change initiated the meeting with Mr. Gonapa and is pleased with the information and discussions knowing it may be a prospect for the future.

“We have been talking about it (Climate change), we have been going to conferences, what’s needed from us now is action, coffee carbon trade may be our answer,” First Secretary to the Minister for Environment Conservation and Climate Change Motsy David said.

The officers from Both authorities under the Environment and Conservation and Climate Change Ministry – Climate Change Development Authority (CCDA) and Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) who were present, noted successive tree planting campaigns were unstructured and failed to provide an accurate number of trees that were already planted.

Mr. Gonapa added, “There is a huge potential (for coffee) to improve livelihoods as farmers will get additional income, improve conservation and bio-diversity when coffee is grown with other trees”.

Other tree species have been used in the tree planting exercise over the years, this is the first time the government agencies are eyeing coffee as an alternative.

First Secretary to the Environment Conservation and Climate Change Minister, Motsy David said, “The Minister responsible upon his return from the UN-sanctioned Conference of Parties (COP) 27 will initiate dialogue with Minister Coffee and other related ministers to progress this”.

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