PNG moves to embrace electric vehicles as key step towards 2030 carbon emission goals

Papua New Guinea is looking at transforming its transport sector to a low carbon transportation and climate resilient development to reduce its net emissions by 2030.

This by introducing pure electric Vehicles and Hybrid electric vehicles to the Country.

However, to have electric Vehicles, PNG must have a policy or framework in place first to do that.

Thus Global Green Growth Institute [GGGI] in collaboration with Climate Change Development Authority [CCDA] and the Department of Transport came together to the validate workshop to give their views and feedbacks on PNGs draft Electric Vehicle or EV Policy Framework, Investment Plan and implementation Roadmap.

This to ensure the policy instruments and technically sound, inclusive and aligned with PNGs Carbon targets.

Acting Deputy Secretary for Transport-Sector Policy Research and Data Wing, Gabi Haoda said the validation workshop with stakeholders today [Friday] was important as it's a critical step in the collective effort to transform the transport sector—to make it clean, efficient, modern and above all, sustainable.

He highlighted that PNG's energy sector accounted for the largest share of net greenhouse gas emissions in 2017, contributing approximately 85% of total national emissions.

"Within that figure, the transport sector alone was responsible for about 23%, a noticeable increase from 17% in 2015.

"This upward trend is primarily driven by increased energy use in manufacturing, construction, and especially the road transport sub-sector. With the national vehicle fleet expected to grow from 155,000 vehicles in 2005 to nearly 600,000 by 2030, we face a significant challenge.

"Recognizing this, the Government of Papua New Guinea is firmly committed to achieving carbon neutrality, particularly in the energy industries sub-sector," he said.

He said that the key pillar of this strategy is the transition to renewable energy and the reduction of fossil fuel dependence, especially in the transport sector.

“This includes advancing the adoption and promotion of electric and hybrid vehicles across the country.

"The Electric Mobility Readiness Project, made possible with generous support from the UN Climate Fund, directly responds to these national priorities. The project aims to remove key barriers currently hindering the adoption of electric mobility in PNG," he added.

Meanwhile CCDA Acting Managing Director Debra Sungi also said the policy draft on the electric vehicle is also in line with the National Determined Contribution [NDC] targets.

Meanwhile, in today’s workshop turns out well as various stakeholders gave their views on the draft policy and the implementation road map.