PAPUA New Guinea is set to host a high-level climate change meeting in mid-2025, becoming the second Pacific Island nation to do so, following Samoa’s hosting of the event 10 years ago.
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board, during its October meeting (B.40), approved PNG as the host for the 42nd Board Meeting, scheduled for June 27 to July 3, 2025. This will bring GCF Board Members and the GCF Secretariat to PNG in preparation for the meeting.
As with other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Pacific, climate finance is not just about protecting the environment—it’s a matter of survival and sustainable development.
The current gap in funding leaves critical adaptation and mitigation projects either underfunded or delayed. Rising sea levels are already causing coastal communities to lose homes and livelihoods, while saltwater intrusion is making agricultural land unusable, threatening the physical and economic survival of these island nations.
With COP 29 in Azerbaijan focusing heavily on climate finance, the Pacific is looking ahead to the GCF Board Meeting, which will spotlight the region’s unique challenges. This meeting is expected to emphasize the urgent need for more tailored and responsive climate financing strategies.
The region’s future hinges on whether global finance commitments align with its needs—both in scale and in practical application.
The international climate community has long discussed the US$100 billion (K402bil) annual climate finance goal pledged by developed nations to support the developing world.
However, these funds often remain inaccessible to many Pacific Island nations. Delays in disbursement and complex application processes create significant hurdles for these nations in accessing much-needed finance.
This is why the Pacific continues to advocate for action-oriented approaches, rather than endless discussions at COP meetings.
Acting Managing Director of the PNG Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA), Ms. Debra Sungi, said that climate finance mobilization has been one of the CCDA’s top priorities under her leadership.
“We have established the Climate Finance Unit, which has made significant progress in mobilizing resources and developing a robust project pipeline in partnership with the Green Climate Fund. We are also working towards accrediting at least one national entity to the GCF, ensuring that Papua New Guinea is better positioned to access vital climate financing directly,” she said.
“Hosting the 42nd GCF Board Meeting is a great honor for our nation and a testament to our commitment to aligning with global best practices. This event provides a platform to showcase our progress and reaffirm our dedication to addressing climate finance challenges while fostering resilience for our people and ecosystems.”
At the last GCF Board Meeting, four out of the 19 underserved countries—Angola, Azerbaijan, Iraq, and Somalia—received approval for their project proposals. However, approximately 15 countries, including PNG, from various climate-vulnerable parts of the world, remain underserved.
The barriers preventing Pacific nations from fully accessing global climate finance are both systemic and structural. Nevertheless, Pacific Islanders are resilient, using a blend of indigenous knowledge and modern innovations to implement swift and large-scale adaptation measures across climate-vulnerable communities.
Sungi thanked the GCF Board and GCF Executive Director, Madam Mafalda Duarte, for their confidence in Papua New Guinea to host this important meeting.
“The GCF, as a billion-dollar fund, coming to a climate-vulnerable region like the Pacific, marks a significant milestone. We welcome this opportunity,” she said.
In her press release, Madam Mafalda Duarte stated: “In this moment of crisis, I am proud to announce that GCF has committed a landmark USD 2.5 billion (K10bil) in financing for 44 new projects in 2024.”
