Papua New Guinea has told the United Nations that the world needs to change its values.
Speaking to the UN General Assembly, PNG's deputy Prime Minister, and minister for Mining, Lands, and Planning, Dr Puka Temu, said deforestation is driven by the fact the world values its forests more dead than alive.
He says new environmental markets must support countries striving towards sustainable development.
Dr Temu says bold leadership is needed on both sides of the economic divide to transform the way the world values its environment.
"Some countries make billions selling fossil fuels that pollute our atmosphere, others for producing low-cost consumer products that humanity does not require. In fact, Google is worth 150-billion dollars while the world's last great tropical forests left standing are worth nothing. How can this be right?"
Dr Puka Temu.
