President Emmanuel Macron of France went on a green-tinted charm offensive in the South Pacific, taking off his suit jacket to explore the wild forests of Papua New Guinea.
Macron’s primary message to Pacific leaders is that France comprehends the danger they confront due to a warming Earth. These dangers include rising seas that can submerge low-lying islands, loss of wildlife, wilder weather, and the accompanying financial costs.
Macron has already emphasized this message during his visits to the eroded coastline of the French territory of New Caledonia and the sea-threatened archipelago of Vanuatu, where he endorsed a call to phase out the use of fossil fuels.
In Papua New Guinea, Macron walked through the lush Varirata National Park with Prime Minister James Marape, sans jacket and at one point, his tie. He discussed a French initiative to financially reward countries that preserve their old-growth forests. Macron explained that natural forests cover 14% of the Earth’s surface and serve as a crucial reservoir of stored carbon, which is released when burned. Consequently, the preservation of existing woodlands becomes crucial.
To address this issue, France signed the first Forest, Climate, Biodiversity project with Papua New Guinea. This project, managed by the French development agency and with 60 million euros in funding from the European Union, aims to preserve and protect forests. Non-governmental organizations have already joined the project, and efforts are being made to involve the private sector as well.
Deforestation presents a significant threat to Papua New Guinea’s unique environment, which is home to a diverse range of land and water wildlife, from tree kangaroos to spiny anteaters. Last year, Papua New Guinea lost 1.8% of its carbon-absorbing rainforest, placing it ninth on the global list of nations with extensive rainforest destruction, with Brazil leading the pack.
While other countries such as the United States, China, Australia, and New Zealand also provide climate change aid to Pacific island states, Macron’s offer of compensation for forest preservation was warmly received. Prime Minister Marape expressed his hope that Macron would advocate globally for the importance of managing forests and oceans in the context of climate change.
During their forest walk near the capital Port Moresby, the leaders reached a stunning viewpoint of partially forested hills, which was named “Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frederic Macron Lookout” in honor of the visiting VIP.
© 2023 AFP
Citation: French leader goes green to woo Pacific islands (2023, July 28) retrieved 28 July 2023 from https://phys.org/news/2023-07-french-leader-green-woo-pacific.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
Denial of responsibility! SamacharCentrl is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
Shambhu Kumar is a science communicator, making complex scientific topics accessible to all. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
