Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has welcomed the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board to Port Moresby for what he described as a “historic moment not just for Papua New Guinea, but for all nations committed to saving planet Earth.”

Speaking ahead of the opening of the GCF Board Meeting, Prime Minister Marape expressed deep appreciation to the Board for selecting Papua New Guinea as the host of the meeting of the Fund, describing the decision as both timely and symbolically significant.

“Papua New Guinea is not just a dot on the map. We are one of Earth’s greatest biological treasures, hosting 6 to 7 percent of the world’s biodiversity. Our forests, oceans, coral reefs, and mangroves play a vital role in regulating the global climate,” Prime Minister Marape stated.

He pointed out that PNG possesses the third-largest parcel of undisturbed tropical rainforest in the world, making the country an ecological superpower in the fight against global warming. He stressed the country’s carbon sink ability, with over 100 million metric tonnes of carbon absorption capacity annually, while contributing only 10 million metric tonnes of emissions.

“That means Papua New Guinea is absorbing more than 90 million metric tonnes of carbon pollutants each year—pollutants generated largely by industrialised nations. We are carrying the burden of the world’s emissions while being among the least responsible,” he said.

Prime Minister Marape called attention to the stark irony and injustice that Papua New Guinea, despite being a carbon sink, is already suffering the devastating effects of climate change.

He reminded the international community that PNG was home to the world’s first climate change refugees, when entire communities from the Carterets, Mortlock, and Nissan islands were forced to relocate due to sea level rise, salination of drinking water, and loss of arable land. He explained that despite being relocated to the Bougainville mainland, many of these people have returned to their sinking island homes due to ancestral and cultural ties.

“We are not just statistics in climate reports. We are real people, experiencing the harsh realities of rising oceans, extreme weather events, and disappearing lands.”

He called on the GCF Board and the wider global community to recognise that forest nations like Papua New Guinea are not mere spectators in the climate debate, but central actors whose ecosystems are vital to planetary health.

“If the world wants us to preserve our forests in their natural state—for oxygen production, for climate regulation—then justice demands that there must be proper remuneration. This has been my consistent call since I became Prime Minister.”

Prime Minister Marape also confirmed that he will attend COP30 in Brazil later this year, breaking from his six-year tradition of not attending the global climate conference.

“This year, I will attend COP30 because Brazil, like PNG, is a forest nation. I believe COP30 must become the turning point where the voices of forest resource owners are finally heard, and where a fair and just deal is placed on the global table.”

In addition to COP30, Marape announced that on 7 July 2025, he has been invited to attend a private roundtable convened by His Majesty the King, involving philanthropists, business leaders, and select heads of government, focused on conservation, biodiversity, and sustaining Earth’s ecosystems.

He urged the GCF Board and the international community to confront the ongoing injustices stemming from continued industrialisation, fossil fuel use, and unsustainable development by large polluting nations.

“The pursuit of affluence by some nations cannot come at the cost of others’ survival. We need global cooperation, but more importantly, we need fairness, responsibility, and compensation for those who are keeping the planet alive.” The Prime Minister reiterated his government’s unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship, pledging to work with the Green Climate Fund and its partners now and in the years ahead.

“There is no other planet like ours. Even if you search 96 billion light years into the observable universe, there is no other Earth. This is God’s gift to mankind—and Papua New Guinea is doing its part to preserve it.”

He extended his best wishes to the Board for fruitful deliberations and invited them to return for future meetings in Papua New Guinea.