Climate change has global impacts but hits poor and vulnerable communities first and worst.
Liberia being amongst the 47 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) is at a disproportionately high risk of adverse consequences with global warming of 1.5°C and beyond.
Least Developed Countries have set out priorities for the negotiations which demand among other things that richer and developed countries fulfill a pledge to provide $100bn (roughly equivalent to £73bn at current exchange rates) each year in finance to help reduce emissions and adapt to climate change.
The LDCs are also urging developed countries to agree to net-zero targets on greenhouse gases well before 2050, with specific targets for major emitters such as the US, Australia and countries in the EU.
Acknowledging the loss and damage they have experienced, such as the effects of rising sea levels or frequent flooding, the LDCs are therefore calling on the richer countries to finalize rules on how previous agreements will be implemented.
“Raising global ambition and increasing climate finance is paramount to our survival,” the group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) said in a statement ahead of the Glasgow Summit.
Meanwhile, over the last 50 years, 69% of worldwide deaths caused by climate-related disasters were in LDCs which now ignites calls for a more rapid global response.
It is now a priority that all countries do their part to rapidly reduce emissions and provide adequate support to the poorest and most vulnerable.
Significantly more climate finance needs to be provided by developed countries as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) strive to reduce emissions based on each country’s level of responsibility for causing climate change and its capacity to address the global crisis.
It has become no secret that developing countries are the most vulnerable to the damage caused by climate change, such as floods, droughts and wildfires.
Historically, developing countries have contributed a very small proportion of the damaging emissions that drive climate change and currently the richest 1% of the global population account for more than twice the combined emissions of the poorest 50%.
These poorer countries are also more vulnerable to the effects of extreme weather because they are generally more dependent on the natural environment for food and jobs, and have less money to spend on mitigation.
Over the last 50 years, more than two out of three deaths caused by extreme weather including droughts, wildfire and floods had occurred in the 47 least developed countries.
However, the COP26 summit in Glasgow which begins today, Monday, November 1, still seems to have sharp divisions among countries on their commitments to tackling climate change.
The division is whether or not there remaining much wealthier nations are ready to cut carbon emissions, give more Covid-19 vaccines to developing countries or to stabilize volatile energy prices.
Speaking to the BBC, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson described climate change as “the biggest threat to humanity”, saying it poses a “risk to civilization basically going backwards.”
However, he acknowledged that neither the recently held G20 meeting nor COP26 would halt global warming, but could, if the right measures were taken by restricting the growth in the temperature of the planet.——— By C. Winnie Saywah-Jimmy