Final answer:
The major political issue in Papua New Guinea is Corruption. The country faces challenges due to the inequitable benefits from its resource-rich environment, resulting in political and social issues. Other concerns include ethnic conflict and independence movements in neighboring regions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major political issue in Papua New Guinea is Corruption. Economic turbulence generally shapes politics and corruption remains a significant challenge in this country. Although Papua New Guinea has abundant natural resources, including oil, gold, and copper, which have attracted multinational corporations, the wealth generated has not always benefited the population equitably. This, alongside the extraction of resources, has led to various political and social dilemmas.
In addition to corruption, other substantial issues affecting the region include ethnic conflicts and independence movements, particularly in West Papua, where there has been a persistent push for autonomy from Indonesia. While climate change is also a pertinent problem, contributing to global refugee crises and affecting subsistence agriculture, it is not identified as the major political issue within Papua New Guinea.