ENVIRONMENT Continent calls for more help as climate change takes its toll
A donkey died due to drought as cows go to drink water in the village of Kom, Kenya, on October 15, 2022. Droughts are worsening in the region due to climate change. (ILLUSTRATION PHOTO) — Brian Inganga/AP/SIPA
This was a crucial issue at COP27. The European Union and certain Member States will together contribute more than one billion euros to help Africa adapt to climate change, announced this Wednesday the Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans.
“Together, the European Union and four member states – France, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark – will provide more than one billion euros to support adaptation in Africa,” he announced during COP27 in Egypt. This initiative should mobilize new and existing adaptation programs, said the Commission in a press release, without specifying what proportion was new.
Climate loss and damage
These funds must be used to; collect data on climate risks, to strengthen early warning systems to warn people of impending disaster and help prevent disasters. mobilize finance – including private – on the climate issue. Finally, they must strengthen insurance mechanisms against unavoidable risks, detailed the report. Frans Timmermans.
Part of this money will be directed towards losses and damages already incurred. suffered by the continent, he said. The financing of “loss and damage” suffered by the countries of the South in the face of the impacts of global warming is one of the subjects that divides the world. COP27. The European Union has clarified that 60 million euros will be specifically earmarked for these damages already suffered.
“Everyone should be in the system”
In another statement, Frans Timmermans on the other hand rejected a proposal from the G77 + China group, which represents more than 130 emerging and poor countries, on the creation at COP27 of a specific financial fund to compensate for the losses caused by ts. He indicated that the EU would make its own proposal, offering to complete negotiations on the funding of such “loss and damage” in a year and insisting that China be on the side of contributors.
The G77 + China Proposal “”starts from a situation 30 years ago years, not 2022, and if you freeze things at 1992, then countries that have enormous financial means today, that have had very strong growth, would be exempt to help support the most vulnerable. I find ça unacceptable” journalists. “Everyone should be in the system based on their current position,” he insisted.