Papua New Guinea Deputy Opposition Leader Seeks Supreme Court Ruling on No Confidence Motion

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has called on the world’s largest carbon emitters to take greater responsibility for addressing the ongoing climate crisis, following President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement. Marape stressed that major carbon emitters have a "moral obligation" to lead the fight against climate change, given their larger contribution to global emissions. He made these comments during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos on January 22, 2025.

David Gelles, Managing Correspondent, New York Times, USA; Eivind Kallevik, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hydro, Norway; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, World Trade Organization (WTO), Geneva; Zhang Lei, Chief Executive Officer, Envision, People's Republic of China; speaking in Squaring the Climate-Trade Circle session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 22/1/2025, 09:00 – 09:45 at Congress Centre - Aspen 2. Stakeholder Dialogue. (Image: World Economic Forum / Jakob Polacsek)

During the discussion, which focused on the balance between global trade and climate goals, New York Times journalist David Gelles asked Prime Minister Marape to respond to the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. Marape, alongside other panelists, including Malaysian Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, Envision Energy CEO Zhang Lei, and WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, spoke about the challenges and solutions related to climate change and global trade.

Marape emphasized that while it was not his place to offer advice to the U.S. government, it was clear that the world's largest economies and carbon emitters bear the most responsibility for addressing the climate crisis. He noted that countries like Papua New Guinea, which have minimal carbon footprints, are unfairly shouldering much of the environmental burden. "There is a moral responsibility by each global leader to think from the global perspective instead of from their own national-interest perspective," Marape stated. He also warned that the Earth was nearing a tipping point and stressed that the consequences of inaction would affect everyone globally.

The discussion then turned to Papua New Guinea’s role in sustainable environmental practices, with Marape highlighting the country’s potential in clean energy, forest management, and marine resources. Marape pointed out that PNG, situated at the heart of the "Asian century," is well-placed to contribute to the global effort in combating climate change. He emphasized the importance of PNG’s vast oceanic and forest resources, calling them significant carbon sinks. "The ocean is 70 percent of the planet. There you find food, you find resources, you find carbon sink; our forest is a big carbon sink," Marape said.

Marape concluded his remarks by urging greater international cooperation to overcome obstacles to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and trade in developing countries. He called for global leadership that prioritizes sustainable growth while ensuring economic development, particularly in nations like Papua New Guinea. The Prime Minister's message was clear: achieving a balance between economic progress and environmental stewardship is key to securing a better future for all.

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Papua New Guinea Deputy Opposition Leader Seeks Supreme Court Ruling on No Confidence Motion