Environment Editorial, Nov 12 (EFE).- Several voices from organizations and non-developed countries demand to improve climate financing at the twenty-ninth Climate Summit (COP29) that began this Monday in Baku, and which will bring together representatives for two weeks from almost 200 countries that will seek solutions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, responsible for global warming.
The Environment and Climate negotiator of the Group of Least Developed Countries (LDC), Malawian Evans Njewa, has stated that this group of 45 countries “urgently demands expanded, new, additional and easy access” of billions of dollars, according to a statement.
“Financing that responds to the specific needs of our vulnerable communities and that is provided in the form of grants, not loans,” because for too long, “the burden of debt has paralyzed our economies and aggravated our vulnerability,” he stressed. .
The representative of the LDC, which represents 45 countries and 1.1 billion people from the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, called for representatives at COP29 to step forward with a goal of financing the fight against change climate change that “is on par with our needs. Not billions, but trillions.”
According to estimates, LDCs alone need at least US$1 trillion by 2030 in order to implement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
Therefore, concluding COP29 without a bold new financial goal “would be a tragic disservice to both the planet and vulnerable populations.”
Njewa recalled that this year severe floods and landslides “have devastated lives and property in Nepal, Chad, Ethiopia, Bangladesh and other countries”, hence “it is more important than ever” that countries maintain their commitment to continue working together to confront this global crisis and intensify efforts collectively.
For his part, the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape, has declined his participation in COP29 citing “the lack of global commitment to rainforest conservation” as the main reason.
Marape announced that the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Climate Change, Simo Kilepa, will represent Papua New Guinea at COP29 with a reduced delegation, with the main objective of defending his country’s candidacy to host the Fund Board meeting Green for Climate next year, showcasing the country’s commitment to climate leadership and green financing initiatives.
The Prime Minister expressed concern about the failure of high-emitting nations “to implement key aspects of the Paris Agreement”, particularly Articles 5 and 6, which focus on conserving gas sinks and reservoirs. greenhouse gases, including forests, and the creation of a framework for international cooperation in carbon markets.
Marape emphasized that, despite commitments, large industrialized countries with significant carbon footprints “have not fully met these obligations, both at the government and industrial levels.”
“Papua New Guinea is one of the leading rainforest nations,” he stressed, calling on the most polluting nations to go beyond “meaningless talk” and take concrete steps to support rainforest conservation.
“We need real backers of rainforest conservation, not just rhetoric,” he declared. “The world must get serious about rainforest conservation as a cornerstone of climate action.”
Marape expressed his hope that COP30, which will be held in Brazil, also rich in rainforests, will “prioritize” the conservation and reforestation of tropical forests.
The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) draws attention to the worsening situation of climate refugees, while the big five oil and gas companies “Exxon Mobil (USA), Shell (Netherlands), TotalEnergies (France) ), Chevron (US) and BP (UK) have made profits worth $105 billion in the four financial quarters since COP28” and plan to expand their farms.
According to EJF, “the serious inequalities that generate the climate crisis and aggravate its effects must be addressed once and for all.”
In 2023, the hottest year on record, 46.9 million people had to be internally displaced, of which 56% were due to extreme weather disasters, according to EJF, which recalls the severe droughts in the heart of Africa that affected 2.9 million people. EFE
