PNG TO TRANSITION TO GREEN ENERGY SAYS PMJM

BY NIGEL MADO

Prime Minister James Marape has announced that the country will move away from fossil fuels and expand the use of electric vehicles as part of a broader push toward renewable energy and climate action.

Speaking at the opening of the Melanesian Ocean Summit in Port Moresby, the Prime Minister said PNG had already begun transitioning to electric vehicles and intended to reduce dependence on fossil fuels over the next decade.

The Prime Minister said the shift was part of the country’s commitment to environmental protection and efforts to combat climate change, particularly in the Pacific region where rising sea levels and environmental pressures continue to threaten island communities.

He revealed that he arrived at the summit in an electric vehicle and used the moment to encourage Pacific nations to embrace renewable energy solutions, adding that the Pacific must demonstrate leadership in sustainable development despite contributing only minimally to global carbon emissions.

The Prime Minister also called on larger industrial economies to take greater responsibility for reducing pollution and protecting the environment.

According to Marape, the transition toward renewable energy and cleaner transport systems was closely tied to efforts to preserve oceans and maintain a livable planet for future generations.

He said Pacific Island nations were among the most vulnerable to climate-related impacts and could not afford to delay action on sustainability.

Marape stressed that protecting oceans and reducing carbon pollution were interconnected challenges, arguing that environmental destruction threatened food security, livelihoods and regional stability.

The Prime Minister’s comments come amid increasing global pressure for governments to accelerate clean energy transitions and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

PNG has previously announced renewable energy ambitions, including investments in hydropower, solar energy and electrification projects aimed at reducing reliance on imported fuel.