PNG, Aust sign forest carbon partnership

By ISAAC NICHOLASPapua New Guinea and Australia have agreed to co-operate in reducing greenhouse gas emissions caused by deforestation and forest degradation.Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd signed the Papua New Guinea – Australia forest carbon partnership (FCP) which was later announced at a joint press conference yesterday.Mr Rudd said PNG –Australia FCP is a practical piece of co-operation between the two countries.“If you look at the overall challenge of climate change, the big source of emissions is coal-fired electricity generation taking place around the world,” he said.Mr Rudd said the second biggest challenge in the overall climate change dynamics was what happens with deforestation and avoiding deforestation. “How do we manage that in the future? And in this area its countries like Brazil, Indonesia and PNG, have a significant role to play,” he said.Mr Rudd said: “That’s why in this Papua New Guinea – Australia FCP, we have outlined a new framework to work together, have regular dialogue on how we can advance this agenda within international forums.“Secondly there is an Australian offer for technical assistance when it comes to satellite-based monitoring of the extent of forestry coverage here in Papua New Guinea which is being applied domestically in Australia for some decades now .”“Thirdly, we have to work with our friends in PNG and then apply what is available within the mechanism of the Kyoto conference framework and a future private carbon market as future revenue streams to the country on the basis of engaging them in programmes to reduce deforestation”.Mr Rudd said this was a practical area of co-operation.Sir Michael said the documents signed takes the issue further on in carbon emissions and degradation of the forest.“I think it is very important that today marks a milestone in our history that we will be working very closely in partnership with you and the Australian people to make sure that the millennium development goals signed in 2000 at the United Nations is effective,” Sir Michael said.“We believe it is very important for us to work together, you have the know-how, you have done a lot of preliminary work before us and we will be working and cooperating on that particular end,” he said.Sir Michael said all these will be finalised during the ministerial forum in Madang in April that would also address other areas of bilateral relationship