Young people present Papua New Guinea's first Youth Climate Manifesto to the government
Young people from 18 of Papua New Guinea's 22 provinces drew up the country's first Youth Climate Manifesto and presented it to government officials in Port Moresby.
Young people in Papua New Guinea have presented the country's first Youth Climate Manifesto to government representatives in Port Moresby, setting out how they want the country to adapt to climate change, UNICEF said on 8 October. The manifesto draws on the views of young people from 18 of the country's 22 provinces.
The recommendations were written by young people themselves
The manifesto came out of youth-led consultations on 22 and 24 September. Young people chose the issues and wrote the recommendations, while the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) and UNICEF provided technical support and access to policymakers. The work was funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency.
The young authors call for climate action that is community-led and inclusive, drawing on indigenous and traditional knowledge alongside science. They want practical investment in resilient livelihoods, water, ecosystems, infrastructure and disaster preparedness, plus accessible information and real chances for young people to take part in decisions.
One in three children faces overlapping climate hazards
The stakes are high for children in the country. Around 1.5 million children in Papua New Guinea, one in three, are exposed to at least two overlapping climate hazards, according to UNICEF's Children's Climate Risk Report 2026.
“The manifesto gives us an opportunity to hear young people's recommendations directly and examine how they can contribute to national adaptation planning and work on loss and damage.” — Jacob Ekinye, General Manager, Adaptation and Projects Division, CCDA
The ideas could feed into national climate plans
At the policy dialogue, officials discussed how the recommendations could connect with the National Adaptation Plan, Papua New Guinea's climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and its work on loss and damage, as well as how young people could take part in international talks including COP31.
No commitments have been made yet. Follow-up discussions will consider the government's feedback and how to keep young people involved as national plans move forward.
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