Namibia has stated its position to ensure negotiators at the COP27 and particularly the developed countries fulfil the promise that a minimum of US$100 billion (approximately N$1.7 trillion) in climate finance be achieved by 2024.
Environment and tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta, in an interview with New Era last week, said Namibia’s agenda has always been clear, as the country has been pushing for a strong climate regime based on a polluter pay principle.
“As you may recall, COP26 decided on a new collective quantified financial goal from a minimum of US$100 billion per annum to cater to the needs and adaption priorities for developing countries especially vulnerable nations such as Namibia. Our call is for developed countries to fulfil this promise before 2025. Namibia strongly believes that implementation shall be central as we continue to advance climate action both at national and international levels,” Shifeta stated.
The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as COP27 will be the 27th to be held from 6 to 18 November 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
After COP26 in Glasgow last year, Shifeta called on negotiators at the COP26 and particularly the developed countries to provide clarity on how they will ensure that a minimum of US$100 billion in climate finance is achieved by 2024.
Namibia supports a scaled-up financial goal that is based on the needs of developing countries to support the implementation of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
“As per the revised NDC, Namibia would require about US$11 billion between now and 2030 to achieve the targets set in this very important national document. The 90% of the US$11 billion that Namibia needs is conditioned to the provision of finance from the multilateral funding windows, particularly from the green climate fund, adaptation fund, special climate fund or the global environment facility,” he noted.
At COP26, nations finalised the Paris rulebook and came up with the Glasgow pact of decisions aiming at strengthening the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
A number of key decisions have been referred to the subsidiary body of implementation and the subsidiary body on technological advice including the established committees for ease of implementation.
Shifeta stressed Namibia has been actively engaged in the work of these bodies, boards, and committees to ensure that its position is reflected throughout.
“In a nutshell, Namibia is making a strong call for the steadfast implementation of the Paris Agreement. In Namibia, we have updated our Nationally Determined Contribution and crafted an implementation strategy and action plan that would enable us to fast track the achievement of NDC targets by 2030,” he emphasised.
Countries, Namibia included, met in Glasgow in November 2021 for COP26 aimed to agree on measures to keep global temperature increases below 1.5oC. Climate finance, provided by developed countries to developing countries to support their efforts to address climate change and its impacts, will be one of the main issues at COP27.
It’s generally agreed that an existing target to provide US$100 billion of climate finance a year by 2020 has been missed.
In October, the UK COP presidency suggested it will be met by 2023. Environmentalists expressed that not meeting the target going forward will affect the level of trust that developing nations have in developed countries.
They feel less developed nations are being asked to cut their own future emissions while suffering the effects of climate change which they are not responsible for. –anakale@nepc.com.na