Climate change and adaptation in the Pacific

The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) was established in 1985. Its mission (approved by the National Executive Council on 22 August 1989) is to ensure natural and physical resources are managed to sustain environmental quality and human well-being.

"Effectively Managing our Fisheries and Marine Resources for Sustainable and Equitable Benefits"

The Papua New Guinea Forest Authority (PNGFA) was established in 1993 under the 1991 Forestry Act replacing the former Department of Forest, and unifying all Provincial Forest Divisions and the Forest Industries Council. The PNGFA has 19 provincial offices which include five regional offices. The PNGFA mission statement is to: Promote the management and wise utilization of the forest resources of Papua New Guinea as a renewable asset for the well- being of present and future generations.

PNGFA Group has been created to facilitate sharing of useful data / information that could feed into SOE, MEA and SDG Reports.

Providing quality leadership through formulation, coordination and alignment of plans,
policies and strategies to National, Sector and Sub National Priorities

The Department of Works (DOW) is the Papua New Guinea Government’s implementing agency for infrastructure in the country. It is the biggest and one of the oldest government organizations in the country starting as the Office of Works and Supply during the pre-independence era. Being the biggest is due to the fact that it is the only department in the government that can boast having an office in every province in the country all linked together through the wide area network. DOW is responsible for maintaining approximately a total of 8,738.46 kms of roads throughout the country. This figure stands as of 2007. Of this total, 5,755.20km are graveled, 2,779.48km are sealed and the remaining 523.35km are inaccessible due to factors such as weather conditions etc.

Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) is a new government entity that is now undergoing transition from the former Office of Climate Change and Development (OCCD). CCDA coordinates the Climate Change efforts of the Government of Papua New Guinea, a continuation of basically where the former OCCD left off. It is the coordinating entity for all climate change related policies and actions in the country. Additionally, it is the designated National Authority under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The office is currently undergoing a transitional phase which requires a major re-structure, in a coordinated and structured manner,complying with its own Climate Change Management Act (CCMA) 2015. The CCMA 2015 clearly defines this in Sections 8-11 of the Act on the organisation’s establishment, purpose, functions and powers.

CCDA is basically tasked with ensuring that Papua New Guinea follows a path of climate-compatible growth; that the country’s economy develops while simultaneously mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and reducing vulnerability to climate change related risks.