Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The COP28 President-Designate, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, has reminded leaders of developed countries of the 100 billion dollars climate finance promised developing countries 14 years ago.
Al Jaber made the reminder on Tuesday remarks as part of his board ambitions for COP28 in a speech he delivered at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin.
He said the inability to fulfill the promise is holding up progress.
“I am requesting donor countries to provide a definitive extraordinary report on the delivery of this commitment by COP28. It is vital to the political credibility of the UNFCCC process, that donors step up to this long overdue obligation ahead of COP28… especially as the real value of this commitment has eroded over time
“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.” He said.
Dr Al Jaber added that “the most recent IPCC report has already made it crystal clear that we are way off track. This is a moment of clarity that we must face with total honesty. We must unite and seize the moment of the Global Stocktake to put the world on the right track to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.”
On renewables, Dr Al Jaber called on the world to “triple capacity by 2030 and double it again by 2040.”
“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. IFIs and MDBs are not keeping pace with the challenges of the 21st century.”
Dr Al Jaber warned that “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. That is an outcome we want to avoid simply because it is in nobody’s interests.”
“In a pragmatic, just and well managed energy transition, we must be laser-focused on phasing out fossil fuel emissions, while phasing up viable, affordable zero carbon alternatives. We know that the energies used today will continue to be part of the global energy mix for the foreseeable future. As such, we will work with the world to decarbonize the current energy system while we build a new one, capable of transitioning even the most heavy-emitting industries.”
He highlighted that “COP28 must also provide 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 need to broaden our definition of adaptation to enable global climate resilience, transform food systems, and enhance forestry, land use and water management.”
Dr. Al Jaber concluded by saying “Let’s put an end to delays and start delivery. Let’s turn passion into pragmatic solutions. Let’s end polarization and empower partnership. There are moments in history when humanity comes together to fight a common threat… Let’s unite in solidarity for the sake of humanity. Let’s live up to the responsibility that we have been entrusted with. Let us restore political credibility to the legal agreements that we have not yet fulfilled. Let’s work together to deliver an ambitious agenda and a practical action-oriented plan for 2030. 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.”
