United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has praised Papua New Guinea (PNG) for its proactive stance on climate change and biodiversity preservation. He emphasized that the UN would continue to support PNG and the broader Pacific region in calling for more substantial actions from global polluters. Guterres’ remarks, delivered to PNG’s Parliament, highlighted the nation’s role as a crucial climate leader despite being a minimal contributor to climate change itself.
Guterres noted the unique challenges faced by the Pacific Islands, positioning them at the forefront of climate change impacts. PNG, being home to a significant portion of the Pacific population and a large share of the world’s biodiversity, plays a pivotal role in environmental conservation. The UN Chief stressed the necessity of protecting these vital ecosystems and pointed out that PNG acts as a carbon sink while the major emissions come from G20 countries, which bear a special responsibility to act.
In light of the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion, a result of Pacific nations’ advocacy, Guterres reinforced that addressing climate change is a legal obligation. He also praised the youth of PNG for their activism, recognizing them as key drivers of this movement. The looming threat to the 1.5°C global warming threshold was underscored, with a call for countries to present new climate action plans at an upcoming event in New York.
Guterres criticized developed countries for their minimal contributions to climate funding and encouraged innovative funding such as levies on fossil fuels. He urged developed nations to honor their commitments to double adaptation finance and deliver significant yearly funds by 2035. He pointed out that many developing nations struggle with unsustainable debt and called for a fair international financial system and reforms to strengthen economic resilience.
The address also brought attention to the visible impacts of climate change in the Pacific, from rising sea levels to damage to coral reefs. Guterres hailed PNG’s continued leadership in climate resilience and the potential for significant contributions to upcoming international climate conferences.
This statement echoes and builds on dialogues held at various Pacific and international forums, emphasizing the region’s active leadership and the necessity of urgent and comprehensive global climate action. The focus remains on strong collective advocacy to ensure the voices and needs of vulnerable regions like the Pacific are addressed and supported as part of the global fight against climate change. This concerted effort signals hope for meaningful progress in tackling global climate challenges and protecting fragile ecosystems and communities.
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