Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has reaffirmed Papua New Guinea’s position as a leading Rainforest Nation and global advocate for Climate Action, following his participation at the COP30 Climate Conference in Belém, Brazil.
Speaking on arrival at Jackson’s International Airport, Prime Minister Marape described his attendance as “a fruitful and historic mission” that strengthened Papua New Guinea’s voice on forest preservation and global climate solutions.
“Papua New Guinea has one of the lowest deforestation rates in the world — just 0.07 percent,” Prime Minister Marape said. “We bring moral authority to the global conversation because our Carbon Footprint is minimal, yet our forests and oceans absorb enormous amounts of carbon for the world.”
The Prime Minister held a landmark bilateral meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva — the first in PNG’s history — to strengthen cooperation among forest-rich nations. He said both leaders agreed to build a coalition of rainforest countries to push for the recognition and financial valuation of forests under Articles 5.2 and 6.2 of the Paris Agreement.
“Brazil and Papua New Guinea share common ground as Rainforest nations,” Marape said. “We will work together with other forest countries to ensure the world places proper value on forests as the lungs of the Earth.”
The Prime Minister emphasized PNG’s commitment to preserve 70 percent of its forests and 30 percent of its marine areas for conservation, linking these efforts to potential carbon financing and sustainable income for landowners.
“Conservation must benefit our people,” he said. “The conservation dollar must flow directly to tribes and landowners who protect their forests. Every tree and reef has an intrinsic value in maintaining the balance of life.”
He also called on Provincial and Local Governments to identify untouched Forest areas for preservation, adding that a financial mechanism for conservation funding will be developed in partnership with global and private sector stakeholders.
Prime Minister Marape thanked the United Nations, Norway, France, China, Australia, and the European Union for their commitment to Climate Financing, and commended the leadership of UN Secretary-General António Guterres for recognising PNG’s global role.
“Our advocacy at COP30 was clear — the world must place value on trees that sustain our climate,” the Prime Minister stated. “If we haven’t yet shut down fossil fuels, then we must plant or conserve a tree. That tree gives life through oxygen — humanity’s number one need.”
Marape concluded by affirming PNG’s leadership in uniting rainforest nations to influence future COP Meetings.
“This is a breakthrough moment for Papua New Guinea,” he said. “We are small in size but large in influence when it comes to preserving the planet’s natural balance.”