"Climate justice" emerged as the biggest topic at the 27th General Assembly of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27), which opened in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt on the 6th (local time). Climate justice means that developed countries responsible for climate change should actively help developing countries affected by climate change, and Pakistan, which suffered a major flood threatening the existence of the country, will urge advanced countries to officially compensate on behalf of more than 100 developing countries. For the first time in history, the general meeting adopted the issue of "loss and damage" caused by climate change as an official agenda. It is to examine the human casualties and economic losses of developing countries that have been shunned so far. Until now, developing countries have claimed that "the climate crisis is due to the burning of fossil fuels by the United States and Europe for hundreds of years," but advanced countries have been negative about recognizing "responsibility for compensation." Nevertheless, "loss and damage" was on the agenda at COP27 because only 0.4% of the world's greenhouse gases were emitted, but heavy rains in June submerged one-third of the country and killed more than 1,700 people. In September, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Villawal Bhutto Zardari declared that he would be compensated for the damage caused by climate change, saying, "Our demand is not charity, aid or support, but justice." Simon Stiel, secretary-general of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), also said, "The parties are mature and constructive," adding, "I believe that an agreement will be reached by the end of the 18th." The U.S. and China, which are competing for global hegemony, have entered a "sufight." China, the world's second-largest economy, is on the side of developing countries. Bloomberg reported that China's climate envoy Xe Zhenhua, who attended the general meeting, said, "Their (compensation) needs should be met as much as possible." However, China's move is contrary to interest rates. This is because even though it is the world's No. 1 greenhouse gas emitter, it defines itself as a "developing country" and ignores the demand to "share climate change responsibility with developed countries." The U.S. agreed to the "loss and damage" agenda to check China, but it is negative about raising funds. At a State Department briefing on the 2nd, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said, "The climate change issue is a global multilateral issue," adding, "Both China and the U.S. cannot solve this problem without cooperation with other countries." They are willing to support developing countries, but China's participation should be premised. The U.S. intends not to use "toxic" alone. In this situation, most of the leaders of major greenhouse gas emitters are absent, raising concerns that it is difficult to reach an agreement. Among the world's top three greenhouse gas emitters, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are absent, and U.S. President Joe Biden will also come to Egypt only on the 11th after the midterm elections. Among the top 10 emitters, including South Korea, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is the only one who appeared or is scheduled to attend the meeting. A European environmental activist asked the media, "The issue of 'loss and damage' has been put on the official agenda, but wouldn't it be difficult to expect a proper agreement at the moment?"
Writer: Stella Lim
(Picture from Unsplash)
Comments