Papua New Guinea has taken a significant step toward strengthening its national climate ambition with the convening of the Inter-Agency Core Group Meeting on the preparation of the country’s Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), held on 29 January 2026 in Port Moresby.

The meeting was led by the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) and brought together representatives from key government agencies, development partners, and technical experts to review progress, confirm roles and responsibilities, and advance the development of PNG’s NDC 3.0 for the period 2025–2035.

Opening the session, Mr. William Lakain, General Manager for Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) and National Communications at CCDA, speaking on behalf of the Acting Managing Director, reaffirmed the importance of NDC 3.0 as Papua New Guinea’s central climate policy instrument under the Paris Agreement, guiding national mitigation, adaptation, and resilience efforts in alignment with national development priorities.

The meeting reviewed the NDC 3.0 integrated workplan and the Zero Draft, highlighting several key enhancements, including:

• Strengthened mitigation ambition with updated energy and LULUCF/AFOLU sector targets
• Expanded adaptation priorities covering health, transport, agriculture, and infrastructure
• Introduction of a stand-alone Loss and Damage chapter, responding to increasing climate impacts
• Stronger integration of Nature-Based Solutions, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), youth, and children as cross-cutting priorities.

Participants also confirmed a clear timeline toward national validation and submission of NDC 3.0 in 2026, including sectoral technical working committees, national consultations, and intensive drafting “lock-down” sessions to consolidate sectoral inputs.

CCDA acknowledged the support of development partners, including UNDP, the NDC Partnership, ESCAP, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), GGGI, UNICEF, and Expertise France through the national component of the EU-funded Forestry, Climate Change and Biodiversity (EU-FCCB) Programme, in ensuring that PNG’s NDC 3.0 is technically robust, nationally owned, and implementation-ready.

A dedicated session also reviewed the Draft Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Framework, which was positively received by participants. The framework aims to ensure that PNG’s climate commitments promote inclusive development outcomes, including enhanced participation of women, youth, and vulnerable groups in the climate transition. A dedicated consultation workshop will be convened to further refine the framework with sectoral inputs.

During the meeting, the Inter-Agency Core Group formally endorsed its mandate, reinforcing a whole-of-government approach to climate action and confirming shared responsibility for delivering Papua New Guinea’s climate commitments.

As Papua New Guinea advances toward finalizing its NDC 3.0, strengthened collaboration between government institutions and development partners reflects the country’s commitment to raising ambition, strengthening resilience, and translating climate commitments into concrete action on the ground.