Showing posts with label climate change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label climate change. Show all posts

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Death by 1000 Cuts - Logging by stealth in PNG

While everyone focuses on illegal logging and logging practice - PNG's woes are much more obvious when you see the millions of hectares of land given over for 'Forest Conversion' projects like Oil Palm. Sadly many operators are using forest conversion as a back door to log by stealth.

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=125252

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Carbon Cheating

I've come a bit late to this one but it's good satire on the whole carbon credit saga. Worth a look. And it's a great opening act to a story in the pipeline due out today that includes - one horse trainer, Philippine cock fighting, a transvestite and carbon trading in PNG.

I kid you not.

http://www.cheatneutral.com/

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Foreign Climate Change Funding Goes Where?

A while back I posted ten questions sent to Australia's Climate Change Minister Penny Wong's office which unsurprisingly did not get a response.
The federal opposition, through the shadow climate change minister Greg Hunt, now urges the government to answer those questions and please explain where all the money goes to foreign initiatives with countries like PNG on climate change...

"Can they (Rudd government) point to a single tree being saved?" Mr Hunt asked.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au:80/world/834621/govt-urged-to-front-up-on-climate-funds

Friday, July 3, 2009

REDD Monitor

For all those who can’t get enough information on the exciting developments on Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) - check out www.redd-monitor.org.
It's a valuable source of climate change and forestry news all into one neat little package.
This week they gave the Economist and AAP PNG a pat on the back for their tireless carbon eco-warrior like journalism…So we like them extra more!

http://www.redd-monitor.org/2009/07/02/png-update-yasause-suspended-dodgy-carbon-credits-and-carbon-ripoffs/

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

This is not a Climate Change pipe



PNG's Office of Climate Change director Dr Theo has been suspended so an investigation into the office can be conducted...

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/832299/png-climate-office-director-suspended

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

In questions regarding AFP -AFP can't comment...

Journalists dealIing with government agencies and governments know the run-run-run-around you get. The specifics you ask and the bland empty rhetoric you receive.
But in the ever quixotic task of trying to get to the bottom of the Climate Change debacle, in particular to a host of multimillion dollar Australian-led initatives, I have tried on several fronts to find out what's going on.
The Australian government responses add to the Grahame Green story line made comical on a daily basis by the Office of Climate Change PNG.
Here are some questions posed to the Australian Federal Police - tied to past media articles - and see the response below...


Dear Sir

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25623185-661,00.html


To clarify - I am not making reference to PNG laws. (In PNG no laws have been broken as no laws exist). I did ask Penny wong's office about evolving climate change initiatives with AFP but got no response to that or the nine other questions.

I think its pretty clear what the questions are asking.


So hopefully that clarifies the issues you raise and I pose the original questions again-

Is the Australian Federal Police involved in monitoring carbon deals or will be involved in monitoring as part of transnational crimes?

Is there any "dialogue" between the AFP and say the Australian climate change office or the PNG climate change off or any other agencies on this issue?

A range of Australian companies are operating in PNG offering carbon trade deals or brokering - often facilitating some of these dubious deals that have been recently exposed by media - what responsibility does the Australian government or the AFP have in monitoring Australian companies in dubious carbon trade practice?

ig


AFP response -

Hello Ilya


Thank you for the clarification and reference to the Herald Sun story.

Unfortunately the questions touch on policy matters that may or may not be referred to us from Ministerial level, or at such time as legislative initiatives come into being.

As such they are not questions that we can respond to at this stage and I would suggest that you keep trying Penny Wong's office.

I am sorry that we cannot be of more assistance in this instance.

Regards


Thursday, June 25, 2009

Unanswered Climate Change Questions

Australia has made all sorts of partnership agreements and multi-million dollar funding pledges to PNG surrounding Climate Change.
But when it comes to detail or even answering what the rhetoric means - don't expect an answer.
Here is a list of ten quesions I put to Australia's Climate Change minister Penny Wong - the predictable anodyne Australian Government response would be funny if it wasn't the bane of my existence.

1) Under the Papua New Guinea Australia Forest Carbon Partnership (PNGAFC) signed by PM Kevin Rudd and PNG PM Somare in March 2008 "Papua New Guinea and Australia will engage in a strategic policy dialogue on climate change" - can you explain what sort of "dialogue" has been occurring considering that the PNG government through their Office of Climate Change (OCC) has been offering carbon deals while no policy or legislation is in place - in particular with questionable REDD deals?

2) "Australia will work actively together to increase Papua New Guinea’s capacity in forest carbon monitoring and assessment" considering a raft of voluntary pilot schemes are already in full swing towards coming online - is this a signal that the Australian government has built enough "capacity in forest management" for these projects to be credible?

3) Is the Australian government concerned that there remains an apparent lack of monitoring, capacity and assessment in PNG's climate change institutions but pilot schemes are already being established ?

4) The PNGAFC says: "Building on Australia’s experience in national carbon accounting and measurement, Australia will provide scientific, technical and analytical support to inform Papua New Guinea’s development of its own national carbon accounting system " can you please explain where we are with that? or what technical et al support Australia is specifically providing?

5) "Australia’s $200 million International Forest Carbon Initiative is a key part of Australia’s international leadership on REDD. The Initiative supports international efforts on REDD through the UNFCCC. It is jointly administered by the Australian Department of Climate Change and AusAID.

"Australia has committed up to $3 million in initial funding which includes technical, scientific and analytical support for whole of government policy development and the design of Papua New Guinea's carbon monitoring and accounting systems" .

Can you tell me how much of the $200 million goes to PNG and how and when is the money is delivered, to what areas?

6) Is it a concern that millions of dollars in funding is going to PNG while serious issues of credibility, accountability, transparency and leadership remain?

(Dr Yasause OCC director is facing the sack after a series of leaked documents show significant "anomalies" - Dr Yasause refuted the leaked documents as merely “samples” stolen from his office drawer. When AAP asked why the head of one of PNG’s most lucrative resource industries would make “sample” documents, Dr Yasause said: "we want to see what it looked like".)

7) Who does Australia deal with in PNG's OCC - what specific individuals - as it appears there will be a regime change shortly and most PNG government officials are embarrassed by the OCC's current direction?

8) Would Australia's Climate Change Office support moves to get Australian Federal Police involved in monitoring carbon deals as part of transnational crimes? Is there any "dialogue" between the two agencies on this issue?

9) A range of Australian companies are operating in PNG offering carbon trade deals or brokering - often facilitating some of these dubious deals that have been recently exposed by media such as AAP- what responsibility does the Australian government or the Climate Change office have in monitoring Australian companies in dubious carbon trade practice?

10) How concerning is it that the director of the PNG office of climate change also wants to personally "produce and sell" carbon credits - essentially he becomes policy maker, legislator and trader- while the legality of this is questionable - does it jeopardises the integrity of the PNGAFC?


(This has been exposed in a signed letter to Jackson Yagi from Dr Yasuase dated September 20 2008 regarding the April Salome area East Sepik in relation to Australian company Earth Sky)

And here is the response from spokesperson for Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Wong:

Australia and PNG established the Forest Carbon Partnership to cooperate on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD), and assist Papua New Guinea to participate in future international carbon markets.”

“Australia has committed up to $3 million in initial funding which includes technical, scientific and analytical support for whole of government policy development and the design of Papua New Guinea's carbon monitoring and accounting systems.”

“At the recent Australia – PNG Ministerial Forum (10 June), Australia and PNG signed a Work Plan under the PNG – Australia Forest Carbon Partnership. This recognises the key activities which need to occur for PNG to be able to participate in any international forest carbon market.”

I've followed up by asking why respond with answers that contained the same information as my questions. I tried to speak to the spokesperson because they have not addressed any of the questions but she has not responded to emails or calls. So there you go -

here are two stories I wrote this month about some of the problems in PNG:

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/eco-firm-pays-out-for-png-carbon-trading-20090618-cj1r.html

http://www.smh.com.au/world/carbon-conmen-selling-the-sky-20090612-c63i.html

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Yes, no, I mean, er..goodbye...


Australian carbon company Carbon Planet paid $1.2 million to PNG for carbon deals but when AAP asked about it, Carbon Planet chairman Jim Johnson was not too pleased.
"I've got nothing to talk about," he said.
"I am really sick of you people casting aspersions on my company.
"No payment has been made to PNG, your information is incorrect."
AAP read out an Australian Securities and Investment Commission Carbon Planet financial statement which says: "Payments include $1.2 million of advanced funding on origination projects in PNG which the company expects to recoup in the 2009 financial year."

Johnson responded: "I am not explaining at all. I am not having this conversation," before hanging up.
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/eco-firm-pays-out-for-png-carbon-trading-20090618-cj1r.html

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Dog Ate My Homework

Dr Theo Yasuase director of PNG's Climate Change told a room full of journalists in Port Moresby leaked documents exposing the illegal sale of carbon credits to up to 39 different international companies were "samples" and he had done nothing wrong.
See the story at

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/world/world/general/png-in-hot-seat-claims-of-false-carbon-credits/1541444.aspx

Friday, June 12, 2009

PNG sky money and more carbon hot air



"Some have asked WWF, 'Who pays for the transport costs?' when they cut their tree, burn the logs and bring the carbon to Port Moresby.
"A lot of people think you sell the gas over the forest canopy and they're not quite sure how to capture it. There is real confusion."

Dave Melick, of the PNG arm of the conservation group WWF.

Here is some more on PNG's embattled Office of Climate Change (OCC), villagers being ripped off and the OCC apparently selling credits despite no legislation or policy. PNG wonders whether the good doctor leading the OCC will still be there for December's Copenhagen meeting?

http://www.smh.com.au/world/carbon-conmen-selling-the-sky-20090612-c63i.html

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Climate Change PNG Time

PNG's Office of Climate Change (OCC) director Dr Theo Yasause was to hold a press conference at 2pm today. Journalists diligently turned up on time but were told on arrival the media call was re-scheduled to 3pm.

This is normal PNG mechanics. Uually we get a few free sandwiches, chicken wing and coke. But none of the usual trappings were available and the man of the moment was no where to be seen.

At 3.15pm after more questioning and impatient body language AAP was told Dr Theo's flight from Brisbane had not actually landed in PNG. The press would be informed when the good doctor cleared customs and what time the postponed media conference would be held.

It is now after 4pm. Despite our doubts we have all been assured Dr Theo is very keen to assauge those egregious assertions about all sorts of "apparent irregularities" in the OCC.

The press conference, we've been assured, will happen today, some time. Soon. Any minute now...


nb: text message received 7.44pm "OCC press conf deferred. My apologies. Will advise when."

Papua Don't Preach


I am back in Port Moresby with a bit of catching up to do. I crossed the border into Indonesia for several days in Jayapura then returned to Vanimo where I was struck down with a malarial fever for three days, something akin to Tropical Madness considering the hotel I was languishing in.

In between all this there has been more developments about the strange dealings of PNG's Office of Climate Change -

http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13724646

there has been a report from Sydney on the Porgera mine in Enga Province in PNG's Highlands. It's usually best to visit a place before writing about it and perhaps to learn burning down 'houses' and shooting people are how things get done in PNG - especially the Highlands. Oh and that there's no such thing as innocent villagers. You should be careful who tells you what's what as there are more than three sides to a PNG coin - especially as those suffering "human rights abuse" are not at all interested in seeing the gold mine shut down....

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/06/09/1244313137827.html

And there was the 19th meeting of PNG and Australian ministers. Seems the two countries can only discuss two perennial topics that forever remains at the forefront of the bilateral relationship- Kokoda and Climate Change.

From a quick glance the meetings didn't even rate a mention in the Aussie press. But from what I understand Australian government will help PNG develop their carbon market - will be interesting to see what happens to all those who've already made a deal with PNG....

http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/png/19_forum_joint_statement.html

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Money Bilong Sky

Tomorrow is World Environment Day, so lets get the bad news out of the way.

Reuters report surfaces on what everybody fears about PNG's climate change office:

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL171901

And here is a story I recently wrote that raises questions people in PNG are asking about theirr special envoy to the United Nations for Climate Change - Kevin Conrad

http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/climate-hero-under-fire-in-png-20090508-axou.html

At the end of this ABC report, Shane McLeod, former ABC PNG correspondent, also raises some concerns about foreign companies already offering carbon credits in PNG while yet no policy nor legislation is in place.

http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2008/s2555351.htm

Here is a story about PNG's Office of Climate Change's recent identity crisis - a top read for those who love acronyms.

http://www.thenational.com.pg/021909/nation8.php


I've included a link to PNG's Climate Change office - sadly and if not perhaps symbolic the site is still under construction..

http://www.climatechangepng.org/