PRIME Minister Hon. James Marape says Papua New Guinea is ready to work with Tuvalu on practical long-term solutions to climate change, including land reclamation, coastal protection, water security, renewable energy and fisheries development.
Mr. Marape said this ahead of his visit to Funafuti, where he will hold bilateral discussions with Tuvalu Prime Minister Hon. Feleti Teo and support Pacific climate discussions ahead of COP31.
He said PNG strongly believes every possible effort should be made to enable the people of Tuvalu to remain in their sovereign homeland rather than accept relocation as an inevitable consequence of climate change.
“Tuvalu is a sovereign Pacific nation with its own people, culture, language, history and identity. Our starting position must be that we help Tuvalu remain Tuvalu,” Mr. Marape said.
“We should not simply accept that because the sea is rising, the people must eventually leave their country.”
“Science and engineering have advanced. Land can be reclaimed and elevated, coastlines can be protected, freshwater can be secured, renewable energy can be developed, and Tuvalu’s enormous ocean resources can provide a stronger economic foundation for its people.”
Tuvalu has a land area of only about 26 square kilometres and a population of just over 10,000 people, with more than half living on Funafuti.
Prime Minister Marape said Tuvalu was already demonstrating that land reclamation and coastal adaptation were possible. Its long-term adaptation plans envisage approximately 3.6 square kilometres of raised, climate resilient land on Funafuti.
“For a country with only about 26 square kilometres of existing land, creating another 3.6 square kilometres of safe, elevated land would be transformational,” he said.
“Countries such as Singapore have demonstrated over many years what reclamation and engineering can achieve. Tuvalu is geographically and environmentally very different, so its solutions must be designed specifically for its atoll environment, but we should bring the same ambition to this challenge.”
Mr. Marape said PNG was prepared to discuss practical assistance towards Tuvalu’s adaptation program.