ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday welcomed the UN climate summit’s move to establish a “harm and damage” fund for vulnerable countries, calling it a “first step towards endorsing basic principles of climate justice”.
The United Nations COP27 climate summit has approved the establishment of a special fund to cover the damages caused to vulnerable countries affected by the effects of global warming.
After approving a “harm and damage” fund, delegates applauded after two weeks of contentious talks and agreed to demands by developing countries to compensate rich polluters for the damage caused by extreme weather. .
In a series of tweets, Federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman said that 30 years have been a long journey to establish a Demand and Damage Fund for 134 countries.
It’s been a long 30-year journey from demand to formation of the Loss & Damage Fund for 134 countries. We welcome today’s announcement 📣 and joint text hammered out thru many nights. It’s an important first step in reaffirming the core principles of #climatejustice @COP27P 1/4 pic.twitter.com/ErNDRLnLCt
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) November 20, 2022
“We welcome today’s announcement and the joint text that has been in the works for several nights. It is an important first step towards endorsing the fundamental principles of climate justice,” the minister said.
Pakistan and other climate-vulnerable countries – at COP27 – called on the international community to take steps to mobilize “harm and damage” funds for disaster-stricken countries, and some say That rich countries must bear these costs because their historical emissions are largely responsible. For global warming
Rehman noted that now that the fund has been established, Pakistan looks forward to its activation and becoming a strong institution that can respond with agility to the needs of the vulnerable, the vulnerable and those on the front lines of climate disasters. Is.
Now that the Fund has been established, we look forward to it being operationalised, to actually become a robust body that is able to answer with agility to the needs of the vulnerable,the fragile & those on the frontline of climate disasters. 2/4
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) November 20, 2022
The Minister said that this announcement gives hope to vulnerable communities around the world who are fighting for their survival due to climate stress.
It also, he noted, gives some credibility to the COP process, and it is now up to the Transitional Committee to push it forward until December 2023.
Deeply appreciate the long hours,commitment put in by our dedicated teams of group chairs,SIDS, AILAC, LDCs, LMDCs, AIOSIS,our Amb Nabeel + teams for G 77 + China,civil society champions for holding the line and delivering the unity needed at such a pivotal moment in history. 4/5
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) November 20, 2022
Joint Effort
When the UN talks began in Egypt, the “damage and loss” caused by climate-related disasters was not even formally discussed.
But a concerted effort among developing countries to make it a decisive issue at the conference melted away the resistance of wealthy polluters who had long feared open-ended liability, and as the talks progressed, the pace continued unabated. received
“At the start of these negotiations, loss and damage were not even on the agenda and now we are making history,” said Mohammed Adu, executive director of PowerShift Africa.
“It just goes to show that this UN process can get results and that the world can recognize the plight of the vulnerable and not be treated as a political football.”
Loss and damage cover a wide range of climate impacts, from bridges and homes being washed away by floods, to cultures and entire islands being endangered, to rapid sea level rise.
This year’s onslaught of climate disasters – from devastating floods in Pakistan to a severe drought-threatened famine in Somalia – has focused attention on disaster-stricken countries, already struggling with soaring inflation and mounting debt. Was tested.
