Climate change and disaster impacts

Australia is committed to working in partnership with the Government of Papua New Guinea to meet the needs and aspirations of its people to build resilience to climate change and disaster events. 

PNG is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, and is regularly exposed to both geohazards (earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and landslides) and meteorological hazards (flood, drought, tropical cyclones and heatwaves). The 2022 World Risk Index ranked PNG as the world’s 16th most at-risk country to climate change and natural hazards.

Located in one of the world’s most complicated tectonic settings, the country experiences a severely damaging earthquake every few years. In 2018 an earthquake in Hela Province caused 160 deaths and US$140 million in damages to roads, buildings and electricity lines. Australia helped affected communities repair and rebuild infrastructure and restore water and sanitation services.

Over 85 per cent of PNG’s population live in rural communities and rely on rain-fed subsistence agriculture, and fishing, making the country highly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. Daily temperatures are projected to rise and the risk and severity of natural hazards will continue to increase. These events will damage livelihoods, wellbeing, and cause significant damage to infrastructure.  

In 2015 a severe El Nino event triggered a prolonged drought and damaging frosts in the Highlands region, affecting an estimated 2 million people. Australia provided around $8 million to support agricultural recovery and resilience and PNG’s disaster response.

Rising temperatures and increasing humidity have meant that malaria has spread to formerly malaria-free areas. Australia is helping strengthen health and early warning systems for disease outbreaks worsened by climate change.  

The PNG-Australia Climate Change Action Plan

The PNG-Australia Climate Change Action Plan (PACCAP) was signed in 2018. It was the first agreement of its kind signed by Australia.

The plan provides a high-level framework for our countries to share information and cooperate on climate change action. It affirms our commitment to work together to address climate change by sharing our knowledge and focussing on the priorities of the PNG Government.

Bilateral programs

Australia is committed to working closely with PNG to advance effective actions on climate change. Our climate change support to PNG is integrated across all areas of programming including infrastructure, education, private sector development, food security, energy, governance and health. 

• The Climate Resilient Green Growth (CRGG) Project ($6 million, 2019-2023), delivered in partnership with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), has supported Enga, Milne Bay and New Ireland provinces to mainstream CRGG priorities into provincial planning and mobilise climate finance for high-quality CRGG projects. The project helped lead to the establishment of the Credit Guarantee Corporation last year, supporting small-to-medium enterprises access loans for green and climate-smart activities. Planning is underway to replicate the project in other provinces.
• Pawarim Komuniti,part of the Economic and Social Infrastructure Program (ESIP), is a competitive grants program for off-grid renewable energy in regional and rural areas. More than 10,000 household solar systems have been installed through the program, including 2,690 household solar kits and 350 streetlights across 50 villages in West Sepik Province. ESIP is also delivering electrification investments like upgrading eight provincial power grids to hybrid solar-diesel systems.
• The Water for Women project Strongim WASH Komuniti Projek has improved the delivery of water, hygiene and sanitation services to more than 40,000 people, especially women and people living with a disability, in East Sepik province. Noting the pressure climate change will put on water resources.
• The Transport Sector Support Program Phase 2 is supporting PNG authorities to build more climate resilient transport infrastructure. The initiative has provided $4 million in co-funding for climate resilience upgrades to Alotau Wharf with the Asian Development Bank.   
• Australia’s investments in health security are helping to train researchers, scientists, clinicians and health workers to understand the spread of malaria and reduce its burden on the health system. Noting the increase in vector-borne disease due to climate change.
• Australia has partnered with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation to help PNG finalise its second Forest Reference Level for the UNFCCC and in February our forestry ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen our cooperation on forestry preservation and help PNG realise their forests' potential as a global carbon sink.
• Australia’s Market Development Facility (MDF) is supporting PNG’s access to export markets for coffee, cocoa, vanilla and livestock. The facility is supporting an Australian coffee roaster to map the carbon footprint of their coffee supply chains in PNG to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon and attract a higher price for sustainably farmed PNG coffee.
• In partnership with Geosciences Australia, the Technical Disaster Risk Reduction Program in PNG ($3 million, 2016-2023) supports the PNG Government to deliver timely and accurate advice about natural hazards to communities and decision makers.  

Regional and global programs

A range of regional and globally funded climate change investments are working directly to build climate change and disaster resilience in PNG and across the region, including: 

• The Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific Phase 3 (COSPPac3) (Australian contribution $30 million, 2023-29) supports the PNG National Meteorological Service to provide climate and ocean monitoring and prediction services. Climate predictions help farmers plan for planting and harvesting, and Pacific countries to prepare for disasters like droughts and tropical cyclones. Ocean predictions (tide, currents, wind and waves) support fishing, tourism and shipping. 
• The Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) Disaster READY Program ($100 million, 2017-2027) is supporting communities, local civil society actors and national and sub-national government to be better prepared for and more resilient to disasters and climate change. 
• The Australian Red Cross-DFAT Humanitarian Partnership ($50 million, 2019-2024) supports the National Red Cross Society, enabling local communities to be better prepared for, respond to and recover from climate hazards and disasters. The National Society is trusted by national government partners and local communities to provide local leadership in disaster preparedness and response. 
• Through Pacific Women Lead, Australia supports the Women’s Environment and Development Organisation (WEDO) to advance women’s leadership in climate change decision-making and negotiations ($699,900, 2022-2024) and the Shifting the Power Coalition ($1.9 million, 2021- 2026) to strengthen diverse women’s leadership in humanitarian action. 
• In PNG the Australia Assists program ($94.7 million globally, 2017-2024) deployments focus on supporting emergency preparedness and response, enabling local partners to better respond to emergencies.