Berlin: COP28 President-designate Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber said to restore the “trust” in the COP process, the developed nation must deliver a $100 billion dollar climate finance to climate-vulnerable countries before the climate summit (COP28) in Dubai at the end of November.
“We will have to address issues of trust. Expectations are high and trust is low” Dr Al Jaber said while addressing Petersberg Climate Dialogues in Berlin.
In 2009 wealthy nations committed to collectively mobilise $100bn a year by 2020 to help developing countries cut their emissions and adapt to climate impacts.
But they have so far failed to respect that pledge. In 2020 rich nations mobilised $83.3 billion of climate finance, according to data published last year by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
“Governments who have made commitments to vulnerable and developing countries, must live up to those commitments. If the world does not come up with effective mechanisms to deliver climate finance to developing and emerging economies, they will have no choice but to choose a carbon-intensive development path” he said.
“In my meetings with climate, finance, and development ministers across the Global South, what I hear time and again is that climate finance is nowhere near available, accessible, or affordable enough” Dr Al Jaber said.
He also urged delegates to “put an end to delays and start delivery. Let’s turn passion into pragmatic solutions”, saying that “the world demands transformational progress. The world needs transformational action.”
Dr. Al Jaber stated, “We have just passed the seven-year mark since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, with just seven years to go to 2030. Seven years to reduce emissions by 43 percent and keep the ambitions of the Paris Agreement alive”, adding that “the most recent IPCC report has already made it crystal clear that we are way off track.
Talking about the importance of COP28, he said the upcoming COP28 must provide a tangible solutions to help people adapt to climate change and manage growing climate impacts. That is why we will be the first COP to dedicate a day to health and the first to host a health and climate ministerial”.
“We want COP28 UAE to be remembered for uniting everyone in action”, Dr. Al Jaber said, underlining his commitment to and the importance of bringing everyone to the table, particularly youth, women, Indigenous peoples, NGOs, and the Global South.
The Petersberg Climate Dialogue is an annual meeting, hosted by the German Government with the objective of strengthening trust both in multilateral negotiations and between states.
It provides a platform between COP27 and COP28 for parties and constituencies to share views on priorities for the next United Nations Climate Conference or Conference of the Parties, more commonly referred to as COP.
Speaking before Al-Jaber, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said that a meeting of rich countries in Berlin yesterday suggested they are “on a good track to finally make good on the promise” this year.
The United States shoulders the biggest responsibility providing only 5% of its “fair share” under a calculation done by the ODI that includes the size of its economy and historical emissions.
The US should have provided $43bn but sent just $2bn, the ODI said, making it “overwhelmingly responsibile for the climate finance gap.
Australia, Canada, Italy and Spain have also been singled out as laggards.
Dr. Al Jaber in concluding remaks said “This year, the year of the Global Stocktake, Let’s unite a divided world for the planet, for our people and for lasting sustainable development. The world demands transformational progress. The world needs transformational action.”
