Climate Islands

Embark on a voyage of discovery with "Tides of Transformation," where we unveil the remarkable journey of women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Kimbe Bay's burgeoning blue economy. Hosted by Dawn Thomas, this episode navigates the challenges and triumphs of these enterprising women as they chart a course towards sustainable success. Discover how a pioneering initiative is reshaping their dreams, and explore the financial hurdles they face in a male-dominated landscape. Join us in exploring the currents of change, resilience, and the boundless potential of Kimbe Bay's blue economy.

In this episode we travel to West New Britain Province to hear about the launching of the Investing in Coral Reef and Blue Economy Project. This exciting project looks at conservation and economic empowerment. How can one protect coral reefs and yet sustain a livelihood benefiting from healthy reefs at the same time? How can we be “reef-positive” in our thinking of the sustainable management of marine resources? New Britain Island houses incredible and pristine examples of tropical ecosystems, stretching over 500 kilometers from tip to tip and encompassing several active volcanoes and deep limestone caves draped in coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass meadows. It has been estimated that Kimbe Bay holds almost half of the world’s globally recorded coral species.

This joint programme is funded by the Global Fund for Coral Reefs and the Joint SDG Fund

In episode 5 of “Climate Islands” Podcast, we meet Ms Gretel Orake, Project Manager of the FREAGER Project - supporting investment in renewable energy, to pave the way for energy services to reach more than 80% of PNGs remote communities. We also learn how communities can invest and benefit from their own clean energy journey.

In episode four of the 'Climate Islands' Podcast we feature Ms Karen Anawe, Project Manager of the renewable energy component of the ‘Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade (STREIT) programme based in Wewak, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea.

Only five months into her job, Ms Anawe has been busy with key Government partners, especially the East Sepik and Sandaun provincial administrations, working to successfully implement renewable energy use in selected rural Government institutions in both provinces.

As the Project Manager of the Renewable Energy component, Karen has set herself an ambitious dream of creating a sustainable ‘satellite township’ that generates power using only renewable energy.

A dream that is also shared by Government colleagues in both provinces. If successful, Karen hopes that the model can be used throughout Papua New Guinea.

In this episode, Ms Anawe talks about the progress they’ve made so far and what the renewable energy component of the STREIT programme aims to achieve.

“Climate Islands” - Episode #3 – Youth4Climate - Vinzealhar Nen shares her local and global experiences of raising awareness about environmental challenges and impacts of climate change in Papua New Guinea - and the urgency for youth involvement in climate action.

The podcast also discusses her recent journey to the #Youth4Climate Summit, in Milan, as a youth delegate for the Pacific region ahead of a gathering of world leaders at COP26.

In this second episode of Climate Islands podcast, the Building Resilience to Climate Change (BRCC) team travel to the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) and Milne Bay provinces to assess islands vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. BRCC team leader, John Poulsen discusses the journey here.

Dr John Poulsen, a climate change and disaster risk reduction expert has worked across the world on the impacts of climate change on communities in the tropics. On the islands of Morobe Province, in Papua New Guinea, the biggest issue is drinking water, among other stark challenges. Listen to Episode 1 of “Climate Islands” - a new series exploring climate change and coastal communities - and the sea journey to find solutions.