PNG secures USD 63.4 Million from Green Climate Fund for Forest Protection

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 1 July 2025 – Papua New Guinea has received a landmark approval from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for USD 63.4 million in results-based payments, rewarding the country’s verified efforts in reducing deforestation and forest degradation between 2014 and 2016.

The announcement was made this week during the 42nd GCF Board Meeting held in Port Moresby – the first time the Board has convened in the Pacific. The funds correspond to 17 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) emissions reductions, achieved through PNG’s national REDD+ programme.

The six-year initiative will support sustainable forest management and community-led climate action across six high-risk provinces: East Sepik, West Sepik, Western, Hela, Chimbu and West New Britain. About 60% of the total funding will go directly to community development activities, prioritizing customary landowners, women’s land rights, and inclusive decision-making.

“The GCF Board’s approval is a global endorsement of Papua New Guinea’s leadership in forest conservation and climate action,” said Debra Sungi, Acting Managing Director of the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA). “This funding will empower our communities to drive sustainable land-use decisions that respect traditional ownership and protect biodiversity.”

FAO, the project’s Accredited and Executing Entity, also praised PNG’s achievement.
“Papua New Guinea will become the ninth country to access the Green Climate Fund’s Results-Based Payments (GCF RBP),” said Dr Hitofumi Abe, Chief Technical Advisor for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in PNG. “This milestone was achieved through the establishment of a robust National Forest Monitoring System, comprehensive REDD+ policies, legislations, and safeguards—all driven by the unwavering dedication and proactive efforts of the people and the government of PNG towards forest conservation.”

The Green Climate Fund welcomed the approval as a major contribution to global climate goals.
“The approval of this USD 63.4 million REDD+ programme shows GCF’s commitment to support Papua New Guinea and the Pacific region,” said Mafalda Duarte, Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund. “This project recognizes PNG’s very significant contribution to the global public good of combating climate change as custodian of the world’s third-largest tropical rainforests, which amount to 78% of the total national area, as well as of the country’s rich biodiversity. These forests are crucial carbon sinks which absorb more carbon than PNG emits, making the nation not just carbon neutral but amongst the few countries globally that are carbon negative. This funding will ensure the preservation of these precious natural resources and the sustainable livelihoods of customary landowners and local communities.”

With over 78% forest cover—most of it primary—PNG’s rainforests remain among the most intact in the world, providing critical habitat to over 470 threatened species and supporting the livelihoods of more than half a million people.

The project builds on earlier GCF readiness support and will use cutting-edge forest monitoring tools to ensure transparency and accountability throughout implementation.

About us:

Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) is the official Government entity in coordinating climate change efforts of Papua New Guinea. It coordinates all climate related policies, strategies and actions with the vision of being the leader in promoting climate resilience, low carbon growth and sustainable development in Papua New Guinea. Find out more at: www.ccda.gov.pg

For Media Enquiries:

Michael Guba

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Climate Change and Development Authority

Tel: 700-09761

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Email: gubamichaelricky@gmail.com