Climate change talks not favorable to developing countries’

Climate change

International development agency, Oxfam, has faulted some of the decisions taken at the recently concluded COP21 climate change talk in Paris, France.

 

In a statement signed by the Media and Communications Officer, Oxfam Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Olawoyin, the agency stated that the agreement was not that favorable to developing countries.

 

It also noted that women farmers in Africa were at the front line of dealing with the impact of climate change, but were not getting the support they needed from international climate finance, and called on the Federal Government to start the implementation of the country’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change.

 

Oxfam’s Head of Programmes, Constant Tchona, was quoted as saying that the immediate implementation of the INDC would go a long way in providing adaptation measures for the vulnerable, especially female smallholder farmers, while ensuring investment in social safety nets and food reserves to reduce inequality and extreme poverty in the country.

 

The statement read in part: “The report of the post COP 21 released indicates that despite the joint push from the civil society, vulnerable countries and more progressive parts of the private sector and powerful governments failed to put our common interest above that of narrowly defined and short-term interests. While the destination has become clear, the lack of a pathway to stay below 1.5 degrees remains uncertain and dangerous as a result.

 

“Developed countries agreed to extend the $100bn goal through to 2025, after which a new goal will be set for post-2025 finance mobilisation, with $100bn as a floor. It remains unclear if this will be a vague goal that no one can be held accountable to or if it strengthens provisions specifically related to financial support from public sources.”

 

According to Oxfam, the agreement does not strengthen commitment by developed countries but repeats their obligation to provide financial resources in continuation of existing UNFCCC obligations, adding that it encouraged others to contribute on a voluntary basis.

 

“Mobilisation of climate finance should represent a ‘progression’ beyond previous efforts, but no baseline is given to measure progress made,” it stated.

 

On adaptation, the agency stated that while donor announcements for climate finance were made this year, the base from which it started was so low that the new commitments remained a drop in the ocean.

 

“In Paris, adaptation was still treated as an issue for the poorest or most vulnerable. Rich countries saw it as a bargaining chip to secure the buy-in of poorer countries, not an essential part of a robust global response to climate change,” it added.

 

Oxfam stated that according to its estimates, only $5bn to $8bn in grants will flow towards adaptation every year; adding that the total adaptation finance only amounts to $3 a year for each poor farmer in the developing world.”

His words: “This disappointing outcome clearly demonstrates that most governments (unlike a growing number of cities) have yet to grasp the enormity of the risks they face from a failure to adequately prepare and adapt,” the statement added.