Papua New Guinea

Integrated Context
Papua New Guinea faces a complex set of climate risks shaped by its geography, ecological richness, and dispersed population. Rising sea levels, coastal erosion, intense rainfall, and landslides are already affecting communities particularly those living along low-lying coasts and in remote highland areas. Many of these communities have limited access to infrastructure and public services, which increases their exposure to climate shocks and slows recovery when disasters occur. At the same time, Papua New Guinea is home to some of the world’s most diverse ecosystems, which underpin livelihoods, food systems, and cultural identity. Forests, coral reefs, and coastal ecosystems support subsistence agriculture and fisheries, but they are increasingly under pressure from climate change. Coral bleaching, forest degradation, and more frequent extreme weather events are affecting both biodiversity and the communities that depend on it. In this context, adaptation is closely tied to strengthening local systems. Building resilience will require practical, community-based approaches that combine ecosystem conservation with improved disaster preparedness and locally appropriate governance. Given the country’s geographic and institutional realities, solutions need to be flexible, decentralized, and rooted in local knowledge.