National REDD+ Development Guidelines.

The National REDD+ Development Guidelines (RDG) aim to enhance the governance and implementation of REDD+ initiatives at national and sub-national levels, aligning with international frameworks and forest carbon finance mechanisms. These guidelines prioritize inclusivity, focusing on benefiting women, youth, and marginalized groups, while promoting poverty eradication, livelihood sustainability, social stability, and rural development. They ensure consistency with PNG’s constitution, environmental laws, customary practices, and international legal obligations, including human rights standards. The purposes of this RDG are to: (i) ensure the compliance of all REDD+ initiatives in PNG with internationally recognized technical modalities as agreed under the UNFCCC and (Voluntary Carbon Markets) VCM standards to reduce emissions; (ii) contribute to the improvement and development of the policy, legal and organizational frameworks regulating climate change, mitigation, REDD+, adaptation and related initiatives across all sectors; (iii) enhance the transparency and improve the functioning of existing and future systems in implementing REDD+; (iv) enhance the capacity and effectiveness of REDD+ stakeholders while fostering collaboration among them.
This RDG implements three REDD+ activities: (1) reducing emissions from deforestation; (2) reducing emissions from forest degradation, and (3) enhancement of forest carbon stocks. The concept and goals of REDD will be mainstreamed into work of sectors and developing policies and measures that drive actions at the national provincial and local level to reduce forest-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhance PNG’s forests. The Grievance Redress Mechanism will be established to address contentious issues, complaints or disputes that arise throughout the implementation of REDD+ initiatives and VCM projects. Consequently, environmental, social and governance grievances arising from REDD+ initiatives’ implementation will be addressed efficiently, effectively and equitably. Free, prior and informed consent processes will be implemented for all REDD+ initiative or VCM projects that is developed on a customary land and/or directly or indirectly may affect the rights of customary landowners and/or local communities. Benefit sharing and distribution mechanism will be implemented for communities, civil society, and the private sector, including any nested REDD+ initiatives. Certain amount of payments will be rendered by the Government to cover their costs for implementing and/or managing REDD+ implementation. Awareness on PNG’s REDD+ objectives will be raised through enhancing communications and knowledge management and building capacity among all relevant stakeholders.
The National Climate Change Board will be the key national government agency responsible for ensuring compliance throughout the implementation of REDD+ initiatives and VCM projects. The National REDD+ Advisory Committee will be established and be responsible for providing expert advice and recommendations to the National Climate Change Board on matters pertaining to REDD+ initiatives and VCM projects. The REDD+ Safeguards Assessment and Compliance Unit will be established under the CCDA REDD+ and Mitigation Division. The Unit will be the main coordinating entity for ensuring compliance and enforcement of the REDD+ policies and any regulation(s) within the scope of safeguards. The Safeguards Information System will serve as an online platform and will collect, store, analyse and disseminate data and information related to the Cancun safeguards as they are being addressed and respected in PNG. The implementation of REDD+ initiatives and VCM projects at the subnational level will be carried out by sub-national focal points, Provincial Climate Change Committees, Provincial Executive Council, and the District Development Authorities. This RDG lays down the methodology applicable under the National Approach, the National REDD+ Registry, and describes the monitoring, reporting and verification responsibilities of the REDD+ Safeguards Assessment and Compliance Unit.