Developing countries call for $100 billion loss and damage target
30/8/2023: Citing a UN-commissioned report that foresees climate-related loss and damages reaching $150-300 billion a year by 2030, developing countries say that $100 billion should be a minimum commitment. The 2030 target is one of several contentious proposals at negotiations in the Dominican Republic this week ahead of COP28 in December.
Source: Climate Home News
Why rich nations must pour climate funds into Africa
30/8/2023: Graca Michel calls on the forthcoming Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi to demonstrate that climate adaptation investment in Africa is in all our interests. Countries across the global north and south should work together to finally meet the commitments jointly made under the Paris agreement back in 2015.
Source: The Guardian
Kenya’s pitch at Africa Climate Summit sparks justice concerns
21/8/2023: Africa's first climate summit aims to unify the continent’s position on key issues ahead of the COP28 climate talks in December. Co-host Kenya is calling for a new narrative that ends the “blame game” between developed and developing countries. Fellow negotiators are anxious not to disregard the strongly held principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
Source: African Arguments
What drives and halts tropical deforestation?
24/8/2023: Researchers have conducted a meta-analysis of 320 studies covering a period of 24 years, confirming that the key drivers of tropical deforestation are agriculture, cattle ranching, building roads, expanding cities into forests, and population growth. Stronger protections for parks and nature reserves help slow deforestation, as does better law enforcement and bans on logging.
Source: Mongabay
US aims to limit loss and damage fund
24/8/2023: The US, which long opposed the new Loss and Damage fund, proposes that it should target the most vulnerable countries and focus on areas not already covered by development banks or emergency relief funds. The G77+China umbrella group of countries argues that they are all vulnerable and should be eligible.
Source: Climate Home News
Middle East’s groundwater: Will it soon run out?
16/8/2023: As rivers dry up and rainfall declines, water stored underground is more important than ever. Many Middle Eastern countries already have regulations about water use but there is a lack of enforcement to regulate water abstraction for agriculture.
Source: DW
Amazon nations fail to agree on deforestation goal at summit
9/8/2023: Eight South American nations have agreed on a list of joint actions to protect the Amazon rainforest, but failed to mention a long-awaited target to halt deforestation. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had been pushing for the region to unite behind a common policy of ending deforestation by 2030.
Source: Climate Home News
Amazon deforestation continues to fall under Lula
5/8/2023: Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon detected by satellite through 2023 is down 42% on the same period last year, marking a sharp reversal of performance under the Bolsonaro administration. Since retaking the presidency, Lula has worked to restore protections for the Amazon and rally international support for the ecosystem.
Source: Mongabay
Carbon offsets will not save the Amazon rainforest
1/8/2023: The deal set up between the Norwegian government and Guyana demonstrates how the carbon offset market is plagued with problems. It routinely inflates its climate impact, diverts money to middlemen who cream off profits, and exploits Indigenous communities.
Source: Climate Home News
Bridgetown Agenda author rejects idea of climate reparations
24/7/2023: A working and financed climate loss and damage fund is seen by many experts as essential to clinching a global agreement at COP 28 later this year. Complex negotiations to set up the fund are off track as many high-income countries are sensitive to the blurry line between reparations and funding loss and damage.
Source: Devex