Pacific island governments have criticized rich nations for not doing enough to control climate change despite being responsible for most of the problem, and for taking advantage of loans to vulnerable nations to mitigate climate change’s effects. is of.
During a UN conference on climate change in Bangkok on Monday, dignitaries and representatives from Pacific island nations demanded that the world do more to address their differences in tackling environmental impacts, especially when it comes to their Countries emerging from the economic devastation caused by COVID-19. 19 Pandemic.
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown said the climate finance model – giving loans to mitigate impacts – is “not the right thing” for countries in his region, whose populations are so small they produce “irrelevant carbon emissions”. Yes, but it does a lot of damage. Effect.
He called for a change to giving grants or interest-free loans to ease the financial burden on the poorest countries.
“The only thing we are doing is adding debt to countries that came out of COVID with more debt, and I think it is extremely disrespectful, that we have to reinvent ourselves. Ask for money, and tell the same countries they’re doing climate change,” he told The Associated Press.
Brown assured that his country has lost about 41% of its GDP due to the pandemic, “the loss of a decade of prosperity.”
He said he would take that message to governments when he represents his tiny South Pacific nation – home to about 17,000 people – at the G7 summit this week in Japan, where he hopes to show respect for heads of state. Can address from a platform of greater equality. but rather as “merely a grateful beneficiary” of “philanthropic donors”.
Palau’s President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. agreed that funding opportunities were “few and hard to come by,” criticizing wealthier countries for not committing to financial aid, an amount he said represented only a small fraction of the spending. They prioritize, such as defense spending.
