Climate Change also known as Global Warming refers to
the rise in average temperature of the Earth’s surface.
Primary cause of Climate Change is the burning of
fossil fuels. Other causes are the human activities such as deforestation and
agriculture. These activities release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas
into the atmosphere.
When more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases
are released into the atmosphere than the earth’s ability to consume in process
such as photosynthesis (plant food), excess carbon dioxide are gathered in the
atmosphere. They then trap the heat from sun when reflected by the earth’s
surface. When more heat is trapped, the earth’s temperature rises, causing
Climate Change/Global Warming. The following image illustrate the process of
Climate Change.
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Image of Global Warming, 2012
Effects of Climate Change seen around the world are
rise in sea level when ice at the Arctic and Antarctic melt, severe weather
events such as monsoon, droughts and bushfires. (Takepart, 2017)
The effects of Climate Change are also felt in Papua
New Guinea. The common ones are;
Ø Rise in sea
level
Ø Unpredicted
weather patterns
Ø Food crops
failures and success
1) Rise in sea
level
Rise in sea level is common along the coastal areas
around PNG. Kang. S and Ajaja. I from UNESCO reported that in 2015, coastal
areas which experienced and reported a rise in sea level are Madang, Manus,
Morobe, and Mortlock Islands, Carteret and Tinputz areas of Bougainville.
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Rising sea level, Manus
1) Unpredicted
Weather Patterns
PNG people normally count from November to March as
wet season and from April October as dry season (Kang. S & Ajaja. I, 2015a).
However this has changed. Morobe province is experiencing a lot of rain while
Eastern Highlands and Simbu Province where experiencing dry season and it is
wet season in Western Highlands as reported in 2015.
2) Food crops
failure and successes
Increase atmospheric carbon will benefit crops that
are C₄ convertors (C₄, a carbon compound) such as maize and sugar canes and not
C₃ convertors such as wheat and rice. Heavy rainfall will increase coffee and
palm oil production (Hansen B., 2013a)
Impacts of Climate Change in PNG
1. Rising sea
level
Already the people along the coastal areas of PNG are losing
their fishing grounds. Fish escaped into the open sea or migrated away. Food
gardens and shelters are under water now. They are calling on the government to
relocate them
2. Unpredicted
weather patterns
Unpredicted weather patterns drought expected wet and
dry seasons which affect food production for consumption and sale. Cash crop
production is also affected, likewise animal husbandry which then affect the
supply and demand dynamics for finished products. Heavy rainfall causes floods
and destroy lives of people along river banks. Heavy rainfall also brought disease
outbreaks like malaria, diarrhoea, flu and cough. (Hansen B., 2013b)
3. Food crops
failures and successes
High atmospheric carbon content is good for some food
crops and not others. So it affects human food preferences and the supply and
demand dynamics for food consumption.
Community awareness and mobilisation
A recent Climate Change Campaign conducted by UNDP and the
Office of Climate Change and Development in 2014 resolved that PNG is being
caught by effects of Climate Change by surprise. Not many people know about the
expected effects and impacts of Climate Change, lack knowledge on how to
effectively deal with the effects and impacts of Climate Change and the
importance of conservation to minimise the impacts of Climate Change.
As their community initiative, UNDP educate people on the
importance of mangroves and asked them to plant more and look after mangroves.
The campaign aims to cover selected coastal ports of PNG (UNDP in PNG, 2014)
Government Initiative
April 2015 PNG Government created a Ministry of Climate
Change and is slowly putting together processes and procedures to establish
office bearers, develop policies and target indicators and activity plans to
effectively educate people on the effects and impacts of Climate Change.
Environmental Acts and Climate Change Policies have been
developed to govern the actions of everyone in response to Climate Change
(Kang.
S & Ajaja. I, 2015b)
A new Climate Compatible Development Policy 2013-2015 was
development as well. Among its key priorities, following are some areas of
focus for the plan (Forestry and Development, 2013);
Ø Increase investment
in carbon offsetting activities
Ø A robust
information system for Climate Change activities
Ø Enhancing resilience
of vulnerable communities to the risks of Climate Change
Ø Invest in
low carbon infrastructure and green technology
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