Malawi yesterday called on wealthy nations to honour their commitments and provide significant funding to support climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts in least developed countries (LDCs) reeling under the impact of climate-induced shocks.
Vice-President Michael Usi made the call yesterday in Baku, Azerbaijan when he addressed world leaders and experts attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (CoP) number 29.
His message to the world, on behalf of Malawi and other LDCs, comes at a time various stakeholders continue to voice out displeasure over the lukewarm response from rich countries to fulfil previous commitments on climate financing.
Said Usi: “CoP29 is not simply a conference, it is a call to action, a defining moment for our collective future. Therefore, this conference must follow the landmark decision under Globe Stocktake made last year in Dubai which reinforced that we must do more, and we must do it with greater resolve.”
Globe Stocktake is a five-year process that assesses the world’s progress toward the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
The Vice-President further said Malawi and the LDC community call upon all parties to implement the recommendations from previous conferences that include enhancing climate finance and accelerating clean energy.
He said: “In Malawi, climate change is not a distant abstraction. We see its effects first hand, and we feel its impact each day.
“Devastating floods, prolonged droughts, and unpredictable weather patterns continue to disrupt lives, destabilise livelihoods, and threaten the well-being of future generations.”
Meanwhile, the atmosphere at CoP 29 remains electric as over 30 000 policymakers, scientists and civil society representatives gather in another last ditch attempt to fight climate change.
Earlier yesterday, Usi held several side engagements, including meeting Scotland Net Zero and Energy acting Cabinet Secretary Gillian Martin where he urged Edinburgh to advocate for developed countries to fulfill their commitments to the Loss and Damage Fund aimed at addressing irreversible climate impacts.
During the bilateral talks, the Vice-President was accompanied by Deputy Secretary to the President and Cabinet Janet Banda, Senior Counsel and Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change Principal Secretary Yusuf Mkungula.
Source: The nation-Pilirani Phiri and Titus Linzie-contributors in Azerbaijan-13 November 2024