The Sunday Mail
“Please save us! Please help us!” At the just wrapped-up UN climate conference in Egypt, the call for help from the developing world threatened by climate crises once again made headlines, but many fear that like before, developed countries may again turn a deaf ear to it after facing years of criticism for failing to honor their climate finance pledge.
Thirteen years ago in Copenhagen, developed countries promised to mobilize 100 billion U.S. dollars per year for climate action in developing countries, but have so far defaulted with all kinds of excuses. Executive Director of the Coalition for Rainforest Nations Kevin Conrad said, “Obviously, they are just unwilling to pay it.”
However, as extreme weather has displaced more, impoverished more and killed more in recent years, in both poor and rich areas, developing countries’ call can be ignored no longer. Rich nations should shoulder their due responsibility immediately.
Developed countries have historically gained from uncontrolled emissions and their per-capita cumulative carbon emissions far exceed those of the developing ones, but it is the developing world that has been bearing the brunt of global warming with limited resources and funding.
“Those who contributed least to the climate crisis are reaping the whirlwind sown by others. Many are blindsided by impacts for which they had no warning or means of preparation,” UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said at the opening of the conference.
This summer, a third of Pakistan was submerged by massive floods, which killed 1 735 people and cost the economy over 40 billion dollars, according to the country’s authorities.
“We can’t cope with it ourselves and need outside help,” said Naz Baloch, a Pakistani lawmaker and parliamentary secretary on climate change.
For the developed countries, what is involved in their anti-climate pledge is not only their credibility, but also their own well-being and the well-being of the whole world.
From lingering heat waves in Europe to historical hurricanes in the United States, extreme weather has been occurring more frequently at every corner of the world. No country is immune.
“What happened in Pakistan will not stay in Pakistan,” Baloch warned.
The developed countries’ procrastination, double standards and even “backsliding” in their energy strategies as shown in their return to such fossil fuels as coal to meet energy needs will only exacerbate the global climate crisis and further endanger humanity.
At the conference, China once again spoke up for developing countries. Xie Zhenhua, China’s special envoy for climate change, called on developed countries to live up to their promises and “make the pie bigger” on climate finance to help developing countries, who are the principal victims of climate change with insufficient adaptation ability and external support in the face of global warming.
As the largest developing country, China has always actively and responsibly participated in global climate governance. It met its 2020 climate action target ahead of schedule, and has announced the timetable and roadmap for achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, and has been taking the lead in developing renewable energy.
To save our only planet and to safeguard the future development of humankind, all countries need to make concerted efforts to deal with the climate crisis in line with the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities.” – Xinhua
