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Prime Ministers Rudd and Somare yesterday agreed to begin dialogue on ways the two countries could cooperate to reduce emissions from deforestation under the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol frameworks.

“Australia can do a lot to help PNG protect its magnificent tropical rainforests,” said ACF executive director Don Henry.

“Stopping forest destruction in PNG, Indonesia and other parts of the region is so important to the people whose livelihoods depend on the forests and it can make an important contribution to tackling climate change.”

Clearing and destruction of the world’s forests is estimated to contribute around 20 per cent to global greenhouse emissions.

“If this carbon and forests partnership is implemented well it will help Papua New Guinea and Australia be strong, leading voices on climate change on the world stage.

“This can only work if the arrangements are part of the United Nations’ global framework to tackle climate change and if they are accompanied by strong efforts to cut emissions domestically.

“Working with PNG is, of course, just one part of the picture. We need to also be protecting our own old growth forests, setting a science-based 2020 target to cut emissions at home and moving to clean up Australia’s economy.”