ASHENEWS reports that the United Nations has warned that no country is immune to the impact of climate change.
The UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell stated this during the opening of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Stiell, who stressed the need for countries to agree on a new global climate finance goal said that the climate crisis is affecting every single individual in the world one way or another.
“We must agree on a new global climate finance goal.
“If at least two thirds of the world’s nations cannot afford to cut emissions quickly, then every nation pays a brutal price.
“If nations can’t build resilience into supply chains, the entire global economy will be brought to its knees. No country is immune.
“So, let’s dispense with the idea that climate finance is charity. An ambitious new climate finance goal is entirely in the self-interest of every single nation, including the largest and wealthiest.”
Aside from this call, the UN official further stressed the need to reform the global financial system to enable countries have the fiscal space they need.
“And here in Baku, we must get international carbon markets up and running, by finalising Article 6.
“We need to move forward on mitigation, so targets from Dubai are realized.
“We mustn’t let 1.5 slip out of reach. And even as temperatures rise, the implementation of our agreements must claw them back.”
He further encouraged countries to enhance their efforts at improving clean energy and infrastructure investment.
Furthermore, he called for an agreement on adaptation targets by countries.
“We must agree adaptation targets. You can’t manage what you don’t measure. And we need to know if we’re on a pathway to increasing resilience.
“And we must continue to improve the new mechanisms for financial and technical support on loss and damage.
“We can’t make decisions in the dark. Biennial Transparency Reports, due this year, will give us a clearer picture of the progress we’re making, and the gaps that we need to fill.”
