Papua New Guinea Launches Blue Carbon Policy Roadmap at COP30
Driving National Leadership Panel (from left to right) Giovanna Valverde Stark - Special Advisor on Climate Change, Head of Terrestrial and Maritime Borders Including Transboundary Waters, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Costa Rica. Gary Juffa - Governor of Oro Province/ Northern Province, Papua New Guinea. Syed Ghulam Qadir Shah - Chairperson/ Member Coordination, Pakistan Climate Change Authority, Government of Pakistan.
Belém, Brazil – The Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG), in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), The Pew Charitable Trusts, Rare, Mangrove Breakthrough, the Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA), today launched the Papua New Guinea Blue Carbon Policy Roadmap during the high-level ministerial event “The Mangrove Breakthrough: Mobilising Global Leadership and Large-Scale Finance” at COP30 in Belém.
Held at the COP30 Blue Zone Side Event Room, this landmark event brought together world leaders, ministers, and climate champions to highlight ambitious national actions advancing the conservation and restoration of mangrove and coastal ecosystems.
The launch of Papua New Guinea’s Blue Carbon Policy Roadmap marks a defining moment in the country’s climate leadership, establishing a clear and strategic pathway for integrating blue carbon ecosystems including mangroves and seagrass ecosystems into national climate and development agendas.
Speaking at the launch, Hon. Garry Juffa, reaffirmed Papua New Guinea’s commitment to advancing nature-based climate solutions and supporting communities that depend on coastal ecosystems.
“Today’s launch marks a significant milestone for Papua New Guinea as we advance our national vision for protecting and restoring our blue carbon ecosystems,” said Governor Juffa.
Member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea Hon. Garry Juffa
“This roadmap positions our country as a regional leader in harnessing nature for climate and community resilience. It reflects our commitment to integrating the protection of mangroves, seagrasses, and tidal marshes into our broader climate strategies,”
Papua New Guinea hosts some of the most extensive and diverse mangrove ecosystems in the Pacific. These ecosystems act as natural buffers against storms and erosion while storing vast amounts of carbon, helping mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
The Blue Carbon Policy Roadmap establishes a framework for coordinated action across government, communities, and partners. It outlines measures for data collection, governance, capacity building, and sustainable management, and will serve as the foundation for PNG’s first comprehensive Blue Carbon Policy.
“At its heart, this roadmap is about people ensuring that coastal communities, women, and youth play a central role in protecting the ecosystems that sustain them,” Governor Juffa emphasised.
“By embedding equity, inclusion, and local knowledge into this process, we are creating a model for blue carbon governance that benefits both nature and people.”
Developed through collaboration between the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA), the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA), and partners including The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ Pacific) through the MACBLUE project- the roadmap provides the institutional foundation for integrating blue carbon into PNG’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and national greenhouse gas inventory systems and looking at mangrove and seagrass ecosystems’ value in terms of providing Nature Based Solutions to Climate Change Adaptation in the country.
This initiative complements global efforts under the Mangrove Breakthrough, a coalition uniting governments, NGOs, and private sector partners to halt mangrove loss, restore half of recent losses, double global protection, and mobilise USD 4 billion (16.9 Billion Papua New Guinean Kina) in sustainable finance by 2030.
The launch in Belém sends a powerful message of unity and ambition from the Pacific region, underscoring Papua New Guinea’s leadership in advancing ocean-climate action and sustainable development.
“In launching this roadmap today, we reaffirm Papua New Guinea’s commitment to climate leadership, sustainable development, and the protection of our shared natural heritage,” concluded Governor Juffa.
“We stand ready to work with our communities and international partners to ensure that blue carbon ecosystems continue to sustain life, livelihoods, and resilience, now and for generations to come.”