Relevance: GS Paper III
Why has this issue cropped up?
The conference of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bangkok last week ran into predictable difficulties over the issue of raising funds to help poorer nations.
Why did the difficulties rise ?
- Under the pact concluded in Paris, rich countries pledged to raise $100 billion a year by 2020 to help developing countries reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and aid populations to cope with extreme events such as floods, droughts and storms.
- However, some developed countries led by the U.S. — which, under the Trump administration, has rejected the agreement — are unwilling to commit to sound rules on raising climate finance.
Is obstruction by developed countries justified?
- Obstructing the transition to a carbon-neutral pathway and preserving the status quo is short-sighted, simply because the losses caused by weather events are proving severely detrimental to all economies.
- By trying to stall climate justice to millions of poor people in vulnerable countries, the developed nations are refusing to accept their responsibility for historical emissions of GHGs.
India and China
- There is international pressure on China and India to cut GHG emissions.
- Both countries have committed themselves to a cleaner growth path.
- As members committed to the Paris Agreement, China and India have the responsibility of climate leadership in the developing world, and have to green their growth.
Way forward
- What developing countries need is a supportive framework in the form of a rulebook that binds the developed countries to their funding pledges, provides support for capacity building and transfer of green technologies on liberal terms.
- This is the time for the world’s leaders to demonstrate that they are ready to go beyond expediency and take the actions needed to avert long-term catastrophe.
