Charles seeks partnership with developed nations to curb emissions
Published:Wednesday | November 3, 2021 | 12:11 AMChristopher Serju/Senior Gleaner Writer
Climate Change Minister Pearnel Charles Jr. says that over the next two weeks, small island developing states such as Jamaica will be engaging global leaders in aggressive and very significant discussions around how developed and developing countries can collaborate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GGE).
Charles, who is heading Jamaica’s delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference under way in Glasgow, Scotland, told The Gleaner on Tuesday that the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit on global temperature rise, which was included in the 2015 Paris Agreement, will be one of the critical topics for Jamaica and the Caribbean.
The region contributes less than one per cent to global greenhouse gas emission, but is expected to be among the earliest and hardest hit by climate change. Floods, storm surges, erosion and other coastal hazards, exacerbated by sea-level rise, already threaten vital infrastructures, settlements and other facilities.
“The scientists have determined that this is the last best chance for us to turn around what is a fast-approaching, irreversible issue. So we understand the importance for the major economies to close the gap to keep global warming below 1.5 Celsius and for developed countries and other financial actors to scale up debt-free climate financing to match small island developing states, and for all parties to complete the Paris rule book,” said Charles.
Failure to keep the global temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees Celsius was not an option, he warned, in light of the anticipated greater frequency and intensity of weather hazards.
“These will impact us heavily, particularly since in Jamaica, we have so many people living along and near the coastline, and with so much of our commercial operations near to the coast, sea-level rise and hurricanes are of particular concern.”
It is estimated that 28 million of the 40 million Caribbean nationals live in coastal cities, towns and villages, with deteriorating coastal conditions expected to adversely affected fisheries and the region’s value as a tourism destination.
BATTLE FOR FUNDS
For this reason, climate financing will also be among the issues at the top of Jamaica’s agenda at COP26, with Charles explaining that like its regional neighbours, Jamaica will be batting for funding support to boost its ability to withstand the impact of climate change.
“We are one of the leaders around financing, and we will be pulling on persons, not just to make the commitment of US$100 million, but to make the commitment to define exactly what money is going to be needed to protect the smaller countries. Whether it is US$100 billion, US$200 billion or US$500 billion, or any amount that is required, it should be achieved because this is such an important issue, which is necessary for is to stop or prevent some of the negative consequences of climate change that we are already seeing,” he stressed.
In addition to the commitments to climate financing, it is also very important that developed countries also commit to change their manufacturing, transportation and other operations from fossil fuels.
“We’ve taken a positive step but much more is needed,” he insisted, “because right now, those commitments would lead us still to global warming going over two degrees Celsius.”