Policy Reciew: National Climate Compatible Development Management Policy (2014)

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 Introduction

The National Climate Compatible Development Management Policy (NCCDMP) was introduced in 2014. It is a document that outlines PNG’s climate change management strategy. Essentially, the NCCDMP focuses on providing a framework for the adaptation and mitigation of climate change activities while simultaneously providing a space for development activities that are climate-friendly. This review will assess the positive and negative aspects of the NCCDMP and, based on that, make recommendations.

Summary

The main agenda of the NCCDMP is to ensure that PNG has a strategic and sustainable mechanism in place to react to climate change issues that may arise. Climate change cannot be avoided or stopped; its effects transcend national borders, which is why it requires a global effort through alliances among states and multinational corporations to reduce its effects. At the national level, the NCCDMP ensures that PNG has a system to manage the effects of climate change.

The policy has been formulated comprehensively to combine PNG’s constitutional principles and plans. The NCCDMP is directly linked to the fourth National Goal and Directive Principle (NGDP): Natural Resources and Environment. Also, it is connected to the National Strategic Plan (2010–2030). Both of which are closely related to Vision 2050.

The policy is developed in a proactive yet compatible manner. All activities, such as policy theme identification, incorporate related policies from other state agencies and non-government agencies. Also, key activities like implementation, monitoring, and evaluation are clearly prioritized and spelled out.

Critique

The NCCDMP is focused on managing the effects of climate change while achieving development needs; this is a concept referred to as climate Compatible Development (CCD). Suckall and Tompkins (2020) describe CCD as a triple win because it allows for joint action to deliver climate change adaptation and mitigation while achieving socio-economic development.

Positively, the policy is global and proactive, so aspects of it can be adapted by other nation-states that have similar conditions and needs, like PNG. This is particularly important for international or regional collaboration towards climate change compatibility among Pacific island countries (PIC), which will lead to addressing concerns outlined in the Boe Declaration for climate change security. While the Pacific has other issues, the most alarming is climate change. Naupa et al. (2018) state that the Boe Declaration calls for recognizing climate change as the greatest threat to livelihoods, security, development, and wellbeing in the Pacific. The NCCDMP can act as a framework for other PICs to learn from and collectively work towards achieving goals to address climate change as inscribed in the Boe Declaration.

Negatively, as it has now become the norm with government projects since the activation of the NCCDMP in 2014, it is arguable that implementation and inadequate funding have greatly affected its progress. Funding has been an issue that has either halted or delayed many projects. According to Di Leva (2017), at the global level, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been effective due to a lack of funding from major donors such as the United States. This is the same struggle that PIC faces when implementing their national policies. The Pacific Island Forum arguably has a history of financial issues and greatly depends on donors such as Australia and New Zealand. Funding issues will directly affect the progress of PIC's efforts to collaborate and implement measures that can achieve the objectives of the Boe Declaration.

Recommendation

The implementation aspect of many policies is halted due to funding issues. To have a funding strategy that is also reactive, as in the NCCDMP, the government should always allocate significant emergency funding to priority areas such as climate change in the national budget. While it is encouraging to have financial assistance through alliances and organizations, it should be the norm to address issues as an independent state.

Also, the national government should allocate funding and incentives to encourage and educate local communities to address climate change challenges at their level; this will ensure that people feel involved and part of the change, in contrast to just deploying officers into local communities.

Conclusion

The NCCDMP was established in 2014 with the objective of having a proactive plan on how to address climate change challenges and simultaneously be able to achieve developmental goals. Although climate change is a global concern, the NCCDMP is PNG’s national approach to managing its effects. The policy was constructed comprehensively in such a manner that it complements other national goals, such as the National Strategic Plan and the NGDP.

References

Di Leva, C. (2017). Financing Climate Mitigation and Adaptation. Carbon & Climate Law

Review, 11(4), 314–324. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26245380

Naupa, A., Ackman, M., & Tuimalealiifano. (2018). Boe Declaration: navigating an

uncertain Pacific. Lowy Institute. https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/boe-declaration-navigating-uncertain-pacific

Suckall, N., & Tompkins, E. L. (2020). Climate Compatible Development: Generating Co-

Benefits from Climate Change Planning. Sustainability, 12(2), 496. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12020496

 

My name is Banabas MENEI. I am from Manus and Eastern Highlands provinces in PNG. I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in PNG and International Studies (2023)

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