COP29: Guterres urges countries to get ‘serious’ about loss and damage financing
Mr. Guterres made the call comment to a high-level dialogue on funding for loss and damage in process COP29 United Nations climate change conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.
“In an era of climate extremes, financing for loss and damage is a must,” he said. “I call on governments to act. In the name of justice.”
The affected are most vulnerable
The world is getting hotter and more dangerous, he said, “it is not a matter of debate” and “climate disasters are piling up – harming those who do the least, the most”.
“Meanwhile, those industries that contribute more to the devastation – especially the fossil fuel industry – continue to reap huge profits and subsidies,” he added.
Mr. Guterres described the establishment Loss and damage fund is “a victory for developing countries, for multilateralism and for justice,” but emphasized that the initial capitalization of $700 million “does not come close to righting the wrongs done to vulnerable people.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres speaks at the High-Level Dialogue on Loss and Damage at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Soccer stars are better funded
In fact, he said, this figure is almost equal to the annual income of the 10 highest paid players in the world and does not even account for a quarter of the damage caused by Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam in September. .
“We have to be serious about the level of financing required,” he said. “I call on countries to commit new finances to the Fund. And write checks accordingly.”
Because “bilateral flows alone are not enough,” he called for new responses and new sources to meet the scale of demand.
Taxes and loans
In this regard, he called on countries to agree on a new climate finance target aimed at harnessing innovation resources.
“We need to implement solidarity levies on sectors such as shipping, aviation and fossil fuel extraction – to help fund climate action. We need a fair price for carbon,” the UN chief said.
“And more broadly, we also need to support Multilateral Development Banks to increase their lending capacity so they can be fit to respond to the climate crisis.”
Severe flooding has affected Cameroonian refugees in the Guilmey refugee camp in Chad.
Climate change ‘a harsh reality’ for the world’s displaced people
In a new report presented at COP29 on Tuesday, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said climate change has become a growing threat to people fleeing war, violence and repression.
No Way Out: On the Frontlines of Climate, Conflict and Displacement calls on governments to take stronger action to cut greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming and climate change.
The agency’s first report on the impact of climate change found that of the more than 120 million people forced to relocate worldwide, three-quarters live in countries hit hard by emissions. increase.
Half live in places affected by conflict and severe climate hazards, such as Ethiopia, Haiti, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Syria.
‘Nowhere is safe to go’
Furthermore, the number of countries facing extreme climate-related hazards is expected to increase from 3 to 65 by 2040, and the vast majority of countries will have to displace people.
Likewise, most settlements and refugee camps are on track to experience a doubling of dangerous heat days by mid-century.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said climate change is “a harsh reality” that deeply affects the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people.
He added: “The climate crisis is driving displacement in areas where large numbers of people have fled their homes due to conflict and insecurity, making their situations more complex. and leaves them with no safe place to go.”
At COP29, UNHCR is calling for increased climate finance to reach those most in need.
It also calls on Governments to protect displaced people who face additional threats from climate disasters, and to give them and host communities a voice in decisions. policy and financial decisions.
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