Papua New Guinea – Country looks toward a future of renewable energy

Along with the rest of the global economy, Papua New Guinea is facing energy challenges, and instead of shying in the face of change, many citizens are embracing new energy concepts such as solar, biomass, hydro, wind and geothermal alternatives. From the discovery of coal and petroleum to the invention of electricity, each energy revolution initiated and brought in the development of world civilisation by leaps and bounds. Now, energy has become a vital and essential material foundation for all economic activities and improvement of human life. For the past century, the consumption of fossil fuels has greatly increased worldwide, and it is still increasing now, bringing about the risks of energy shortage, environmental pollution, and ecology deterioration.

What is worse is that increasing use of fossil fuels has greatly increased greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in climate change and global warming. Leaders and politicians from various countries very often hold different points of view towards significant international issues. However, there is a growing consensus of opinion among them on the issue of the protection of natural resources and environment, especially on climate change and global warming. For instance, the G8 meeting in London last month is an outstanding example. These are the world's leading economic powers (G8) and emerging powers (China and India), agreeing to use clean energy technologies to combat climate change. The meeting underlined that there was a broad need to accelerate the deployment of technologies to tackle climate change while maintaining economic growth and sustainable development.

These nations also agreed to work together on deploying clean technologies such as renewable energy technologies and carbon capture and storage, to eventually reduce global emissions. Liu Zhaoxiang, chairman of Fanchang Consultancy (PNG) Ltd, gave a good answer to the issue in a Sept 29 Letter to the Editor "Put renewable energy to work", and again last Friday in a Weekender feature article. In the second place, more consumption of fossil fuels produces more greenhouse gases that stoke global warming.