Papua New Guinea Withdraws from COP29 Summit

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape has announced that he will not attend the COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, in protest of the insufficient global commitment to rainforest conservation and the lack of action from high-emission nations. Marape emphasized the critical role of rainforests as carbon sinks and called for genuine action rather than 'meaningless talkfests' from industrialized nations. He will be represented by Minister for Environment, Conservation, and Climate Change, Simo Kilepa, who will advocate for PNG’s bid to host the Green Climate Fund Board meeting next year. Concerns have been raised by climate advocates about the potential isolation of Papua New Guinea from vital climate discussions and funding opportunities. The summit is also facing tensions over climate finance, particularly with disagreements between the U.S. and China regarding contributions to aid developing countries. The ongoing criticism of the COP process highlights the frustrations of vulnerable nations like Papua New Guinea in seeking meaningful climate action and support.