Papua New Guinea has prepared for COP30 with a renewed emphasis on the economic value of forests and biodiversity. As one of the world’s most forested countries, Papua New Guinea has made the case that global climate frameworks must better compensate tropical forest nations for the role their ecosystems play in storing carbon and regulating climate systems. More than 75 per cent of the country’s landmass is under forest cover, including some of the world’s most biologically diverse ecosystems.
Policymakers have pointed out that protecting forests provides global benefits, while the financial cost of conservation is borne locally. The government’s position is that sustainable climate action requires financial mechanisms that recognise both carbon and biodiversity value. These discussions are taking place at a time when international interest in nature-based solutions and biodiversity credits is expanding.
Landowner participation remains fundamental. With more than 95 per cent of land held under customary tenure, any conservation or carbon initiative must be developed through transparent consultation and equitable benefit-sharing frameworks. Government agencies and development partners have been working to strengthen monitoring and governance capacity to reduce the risk of disputes and ensure fair participation.
For the private sector, engagement in climate-related markets is beginning to shift from exploratory to strategic. Companies in agriculture, forestry, tourism and natural resource management are seeing increasing demand for sustainability-linked products and certified supply chains. At the same time, firms are aware that compliance expectations are rising globally.
Papua New Guinea’s delegation is expected to argue that sustainable development must not limit community livelihoods or national economic growth. The message is one of balance: forests and biodiversity represent national assets with long-term economic value if managed responsibly. COP30 is expected to provide a platform to advance this message and position Papua New Guinea as a key voice in global climate policy.
