What do the Cancun safeguards mean in PNG?

The UNFCCC “strongly encourages” developing country Parties, when providing the information on how the Cancun safeguards are being addressed and respected, to include, inter alia, “[a] description of each safeguard in accordance with national circumstances”

Accordingly, PNG has adopted a description of each safeguard in accordance with national circumstances by identifying the various rights and obligations that are embodied in the Cancun safeguards, and examining how these are reflected in the specific country context in the country’s legal framework.

Narrative description:

The National REDD+ Strategy must be implemented in compliance with the objectives of national forest programmes, and consistent to the provisions of the relevant treaties and international conventions PNG is Party to.

Core elements of the clarification:

1. The REDD+ strategy is consistent with the objectives of national forest programmes
2. The REDD+ strategy is consistent with relevant and applicable international conventions and agreements

Narrative description:
Transparency and effectiveness of forest governance structures, including the right to access to information, accountability, access to justice and the recognition and protection of land use rights are promoted and regulated in the scope of the application of the National REDD+ Strategy through the relevant PLRs of the country.

Core elements of the clarification:

1. Right to access information is recognized and protected in the context of the implementation of the REDD+ strategy
2. Accountability is guaranteed in the context of the implementation of the REDD+ strategy
3. Right to access justice is recognized and protected in the context of the implementation of the REDD+ strategy
4. Rights over forest land are recognized and protected in the context of the implementation of the REDD+ strategy

Narrative description:

The recognition of, and respect for the rights of customary landowners, local communities and vulnerable groups in accordance to the relevant PLRs is applicable to the implementation of the National REDD+ Strategy; including the rights to non-discrimination, traditional knowledge and culture, self-determination, benefit sharing and collective tenure rights.

Core elements of the clarification:

1. The rights of customary landowners, local communities and vulnerable groups are promoted and protected in the context of the application of the REDD+ strategy, in consistency with relevant and applicable international conventions and treaties.
2. Traditional knowledge is recognized and protected in the context of the application of the REDD+ strategy

Narrative description:

The right to participate, in particular for customary landowners, local communities and vulnerable groups, is recognized and promoted under the National REDD+ Strategy through the relevant PLRs of the country, which include the promotion of gender equality and the right to free, prior and informed consent.

Core elements of the clarification:

1. The right to participate in the design and implementation of the REDD+ strategy is recognized and promoted.
2. Customary landowners, local communities and vulnerable groups right to participate, including their Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) is recognized and promoted in the context of the application of the REDD+ Strategy
3. Gender equality is promoted and protected in the context of the implementation of the REDD+ strategy

Narrative description:

REDD+ actions under the National REDD+ Strategy will promote the conservation of natural forests and biodiversity, the enhancement of social and environmental benefits, and will not result in the conversion of natural forests, in accordance with the relevant PLRs in the country.

Core elements of the clarification:

1. REDD+ strategy is consistent with the conservation of natural forests and biological diversity
2. REDD+ strategy will not incentivise the conversion of natural forests
3. Enhancement of and the right to a fair distribution of benefits is recognized and protected in the context of the implementation of the REDD+ strategy

Narrative description:

Risks of reversals and displacement of emissions of the proposed REDD+ actions are addressed through relevant monitoring and assessment systems (e.g. Measurement, Reporting and Verification -MRV- specific measures and establishment of the National Forest Monitoring System-NFMS)

Core elements of the clarification:

1. Addressing risks of reversals is required by the REDD+ strategy
2. Addressing risks displacement of emissions is required by the REDD+ strategy