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Leonard Ncube in Dubai, UAE
CONCERN has been raised about lack of desire by polluting and developed countries to speed up implementation of financial and adaptation promises made in previous climate agreements, as some partner nations are reportedly hesitant to pay or expand finances.
In previous climate conventions, developed countries responsible for most of the global warming that has caused climate change promised US$100 billion by 2025 at a rate of US$40 billion a year but actual funding is a lot less.
While the developed world produced most of the global warming, the resulting climate change disproportionately hit developing countries, since African nations including Zimbabwe contribute less than five percent of global warming.
With little movement on implementing funding agreements, the 28th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) currently underway in Dubai is expected to usher in change in a number of areas hence it has been touted as the Action COP.
Developing countries went into COP28, which started on 30 November and ends on 12 December, expecting implementation and closure on a number of issues around loss and damage, just transition , climate financing and adaptation, and the global stocktake.
While more financial pledges have been made particularly in the area of loss and damage, with developed countries promising more than US$1 billion during this COP28, there is slow progress in implementing climate financing for adaptation and mitigation.
There are concerns that the momentum on the negotiations has decelerated especially on the global goal on adaptation thereby threatening progress.
The first text to the negotiations was rejected according to an update from the meetings and hope lies with inter-ministerial meetings next week.
Zimbabwe and other developing nations believe there should be finance mechanisms that package multiple sources of financing including domestic public resources, private sector, and concessionary financing.
As money matters seem to be stalling progress, there are fears that the hopes for just transition and mitigation will remain a mirage because of diverging commitments by partner states as no agreement has been reached so far on implementation.
Climate experts have called for alternative sources of climate financing and in the case of Zimbabwe, the need to implement the National Climate Fund.
In an interview, Environment, Climate and Wildlife Permanent Secretary Professor Prosper Matondi said Zimbabwe is however, happy with some of the engagements the country has done so far despite hesitancy by financiers.
“On the issue of balance, its a mix of issues that are emerging. When we came here our priority was on loss and damage and we have got what we needed around operationalisation of the fund and we are quite happy about that.
“here is a cocktail of issues being negotiated which include just transition, mitigation, reaffirming of the maximum of 1,5 degrees Celsius by 2030, food security and agro ecology which are quiet important for Zimbabwe and I am happy Zimbabwe has pushed that agenda,” he said.
Prof Matondi said exclusion of the issue of Zimbabwe’s food agro ecology on the agenda should not discourage the country’s negotiators but encourage them to work harder.
No other country had a viable regenerative agriculture model like Zimbabwe under President Mnangagwa.
Prof Matondi said inclusion of gender on the agenda was encouraging as women and girls are disproportionately affected by climate change.
The biggest disappointment thus far is on science and technology.
“Our expectation was that we would be able to get headway around renewable energy as we have a range of projects suggested up to five years ago that can cumulatively give us more than 2 000MW of renewable energy but resources are low and unavailable. We hope a platform like this will drive the agenda.
“For Africa the pollution rate is less than 4 percent of total global emissions and per capita emissions per individual about 0.05 percent. So those who have been polluting promised to pay for that pollution through transfer mechanism and a conference like this provides a platform for possible novel answers towards addressing some of the challenges and we are determined that we are going to get concessions,” said Prof Matondi.
He said there is a need to reinvigorate discussions.
“The ministerial discussions should get us going than to wait for the next COP. We are so sensitive and we will do our best for our country and pledges so far have been on loss and damage, the quickest for any COP and I think it’s now over US$1 billion.
“The key issue is that next week we do ministerial engagements and we want to see the actual commitments that are going to be made”.
Online Reporter