12/08/2024
Mustafa Kamal Akanda | Published: 2023-12-04 17:18:43
During the ongoing Cop 28 Global Climate Conference in Dubai, leaders of Civil Society from Most Vulnerable Countries (MVCs) convened a press conference, highlighting the critical need for tangible National Determined Contribution (NDC) targets from major carbon emitters.
Their emphasis is on concrete actions to achieve the 1.5-degree temperature goal outlined in the Paris Agreement.
Additionally, they call on developed countries to fulfill their long-overdue commitment of US$100 billion in financing, as promised during CoP 15.
The press conference, titled "LDC’s & MVC Peoples’ Expectations and CoP 28," took place at the CoP 28 climate conference center in Dubai.
Representatives from various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) including Md. Ziaul Hoque Mukta (CSRL), Md. Shamsuddoha (Centre for Participatory Research & Development), Mr. Shamim Arfeen (AoSED), Mr. Atle Solberg Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD), Ms. Samah Hadid Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), and Ms. Lidy Nacpil, Asia Pacific Movement on Debt & Development (APMDD) participated and shared their insights.
The keynote address on civil society expectations was presented by Aminul Hoque from EquityBD, Bangladesh.
Aminul Hoque emphasized the challenge associated with the enforceability of the Paris Agreements, pointing out the absence of monitoring and reporting mechanisms for carbon emissions reduction.
He criticized the CoP 28 presidency for denying the scientific basis behind achieving the Zero Emission target through the phased-out of fossil fuels.
Hoque outlined key demands in favor of civil society, those are
(i) developed countries must follow the scientific progress and set realistic target to achieve 1.5-degree temperature goal,
(ii) They Must pay their cumulative overdue of 100 billion dollar climate finance as promised,
(iii) Discourse of New & Collective Finance will be designed in focusing the MVCs priorities and non-debt instrumental,
(iv) The synthesizing of NAP (National Adaptation Plan) will be defined as the GGA [Global Goal on Adaptation], because the NAP is prepared under UNFCCC process.
Md. Shamsuddoha opine the current process of mitigation is suicidal and he stressed the importance of establishing a mandatory timeline for submitting long-term mitigation strategies, holding all Parties accountable for a low-emission pathway, and achieving zero emissions by 2050 with a political commitment.
He called for ambitious NDCs coherent with the 1.5-degree Celsius target, based on latest scientific findings.
Lidy Nacpil criticize the public finance finds itself at a crossroads. IFIs (International Financial Institutions) and the global north governments who largely control them must stop their overreliance on the private sector. This approach that has consistently underdelivered and often caused great harm. We urgently need public finance policy, priorities, and governance to push to a 1.5-degree aligned, just transition, rooted in collective wellbeing and global and local equity. To do this, we will need to transform public finance institutions to be equitable, democratic, rights-upholding, sustainable, and transparent.
The “billions to trillions” mantra are completely unrealistic without significant changes to the system she added.
Atle Solberg expressed deep concern about displacement which is one of the major problems that is looming large at present and future context across the globe. In this context, we demand effective measures that will support the countries to address the climate induced displacement through ensuring their rights in locally and nationally.
Shamim Arfeen said that there trillion dollars available but the global leaders need to change their mindset to make the finance pro poor.
Samah Hadid shared concerns about the rate of climate change occurring in the Middle East and North Africa and the lack of resources and financing to fragile and conflict affected contexts in the region.
She called on states to increase financing for climate adaptation and resilience who are struggling to cope with climate change impacts.
Ziaul Hoque Mukta of CSRL urges the Country Parties to strongly challenge the COP Presidency’s statement on end of fossil fuel delivered yesterday 03 December, which is against the fundamental context established the climate science and the formation of UNFCCC.
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