TE24 International Desk:
Tensions are running high ahead of this year’s UN climate summit, with vulnerable nations demanding rich nations pay compensation for climate change damage to the world’s poor.
As diplomats from nearly 200 countries meet in Egypt’s seaside resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Nov. 7, its CO2 emissions are causing climate change and deadly heat waves, wildfires, and rising seas, droughts.
But another issue will dominate the discussion: “losses and damages,” or climate-related destruction, of infrastructure and lifestyles in the poorest countries contributing least to global warming.
By the United Nations and the world’s 46 least developed countries, with 14% of the world’s population, produce only 1% of the world’s annual CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels.
As COP27 approaches, climate damage is mounting in rich and poor countries alike. In recent weeks, wildfires have consumed vast swathes of land in Morocco, Greece and Canada, droughts have ravaged Italy’s vineyards and severe floods have hit The Gambia and China.
“That was the tipping point. We were impressed by it and talked about it for a long time. Selimul Haque, advisor
Rich countries have also failed to meet their $100 billion annual pledge by 2020 to help poor countries reduce emissions and prepare for climate change.
Damages and damages payments that added to his $100 billion.
“Unambiguously. Finance is about money. It means reaching into your pocket, taking out dollars, euros and yen and putting it on the table for the victims of climate change.
Impediments are just as controversial as bringing damage and damage funding into the COP27 debate.
The topic was also not included in his pre-COP27 consultation in Bonn, Germany in June. There, too, talks on UN technical assistance to compensate for damage and loss have ended without agreement amid disagreements over how the system should operate.
COP27 is not getting any easier as rich countries come up with austerity budgets due to rising energy costs, the economic fallout from the war in Ukraine and Covid-19.
Matthew Samuda, Jamaica’s Minister of Economic Growth for Climate Change, said: “I hope developing countries will raise their collective voices to demand appropriate treatment of damage and loss.
Historically, rich economies, including the United States and the 27-member European Union, have resisted measures that could create liability and reparations. was adamant about establishing a real fund. Debates may arise over where climate-related damages come from, how they are distributed, and even how to define climate-related damages, with some studies suggesting that these damages could reach $580 billion annually.
“Everything was very uncertain about how to restore trust between developed and developing countries,” said Alex Scott, a climate diplomacy expert at think tank E3G.
“I hope the international community will act quickly,” said Madeleine Diouf Searle, chair of the Least Developed Countries bloc at the UN Climate Conference. There is,” he said, citing a growing awareness of the need among rich countries.
For example, during a visit to the Pacific islands of Palau last month, Germany’s foreign minister said the country would make the issue a priority in its international climate policy. It’s something we haven’t talked about enough for a long time, says Annalena.
