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‘Absolutely regrettable’

UN sec-gen bemoans ‘developed world’s’ unfulfilled promise of US$100b to tackle climate change

Published:Tuesday | May 16, 2023 | 1:43 AMEdmond Campbell/Senior Staff Reporter
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to the media at a press conference at Jamaica House Media Centre in Kingston yesterday.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to the media at a press conference at Jamaica House Media Centre in Kingston yesterday.

UNITED NATIONS (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described as “absolutely regrettable” the unfulfilled promises by developed countries to provide US$100 billion annually since 2020, in support of developing countries impacted by climate change.

He bemoaned that the failure by the developed world to make good on their commitment that would assist developing states hit by the effects of climate change was indicative of an injustice of the world system.

“As it is not yet clear that the commitment that was made to double the finance for adaptation will be met, and this has been a huge cause of frustration in the developing world and a pretext for some emerging economies not to do what they also need to do in relation to the reduction of emission,” Guterres argued, during a press briefing at the media centre, Jamaica House in St Andrew.

According to the UN, the Adaptation Fund finances projects and programmes that help vulnerable communities in developing countries to adapt to climate change.

The UN and environmental groups around the world have pressed for urgent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to limit the impacts of climate change on vulnerable small island developing states, among others.

Guterres made a strong appeal yesterday to the international community, in particular the developed world, “to make sure that we do not wait one minute more to ensure that these two promises are quickly implemented”.

The UN boss was on a two-day visit to Jamaica where he held talks with Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

He also praised Holness for being “a champion in relation to climate action and a champion in relation to an effective reformed multilateral financial architecture in the world”.

The prime minister told Guterres that Jamaica has been experiencing one of its worst droughts in the last six months. He also highlighted that in a matter of weeks the 2023 hurricane season will begin.

According to Holness, the country understands in real ways the impacts of climate change.

He said it is a moral imperative that more developed countries seek to ensure that countries like Jamaica, small-island developing states, who are vulnerable to climate impacts are put in a position where they can adapt to the changing climate.

He argued that there should be some form of reparation for loss and damage caused by the effects of climate change and that these impacted countries also benefit from technologies that could mitigate the impact.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com