Rich Countries 'confident' Of Meeting Climate Finance Pledge
Sumaira FH Published October 17, 2016 | 10:50 PM
PARIS, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Oct, 2016 ) - Rich countries, which have pledged $100 billion (91 billion Euros) every year from 2020 for poor countries to deal with climate change, said Monday they were "confident" of meeting the target.
Pledges made in 2015 alone would boost public finance from $41 billion in 2013-14 to $67 billion in 2020, they said in a report entitled "Roadmap to $100 billion". This was based on calculations of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and relate to funds from governments and multinational development banks, not private contributions.
"It should be considered a conservative, indicative aggregation of public climate finance levels in 2020, rather than a firm prediction," the countries said. The report, signed by 38 developed nations and the European Commission, was released in Marrakesh at a meeting to prepare for the annual round of UN climate talks to be hosted by Morocco in November.
Last year's round, in France, yielded the so-called Paris Agreement to curb global warming to under two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-Industrial Revolution levels. The $100 billion pledge was made at the 2009 talks in Copenhagen, where it was a major sticking point in negotiations.
The hard-fought Paris Agreement, seeks to limit climate change by curbing planet-warming gases emitted by mankind's burning of coal, oil and gas for energy and heating.
The Dollar amount was finally not enshrined in the binding agreement itself, but in an attached non-binding "decision" document, which committed developed countries to "set a new collective quantified goal from a floor of $100 billion per year" -- meaning it can only go up.
"We are confident we will meet the $100 billion goal from a variety of sources, and reaffirm our commitment to doing so..." the countries said. The sourcing of the money had been one of the main points of contention, with poor nations insisting most of it should come from governments rather than loans, companies, multilateral agencies or development aid.
The money is meant to ease the shift from cheap and abundant coal to renewable energy sources, and for shoring up defences against climate change impacts such as freak storms, drought and sea-level rise.
In the "Roadmap", the donor countries committed themselves to "use public finance and policy interventions to effectively mobilise private finance." Observers welcomed Monday's report but said there was still a need for donors to show exactly how they will make up the remaining difference.
"We know that the national climate plans in the Paris Agreement will take trillions of Dollars to implement," said Alison Doig, climate change adviser for Christian Aid, which defends the interests of climate change victims. "The public finance outlined today will help, but is not enough."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
Nasreen Noori’s book ‘Popatan Jahra Khwab’ launched
Wafaqi Mohtasib inspection team visits Excise and taxation office
AJLAC announces 5th Conference titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil ..
Pak-US officials engage to enhance trade, investment ties
IBCC to promote educational excellence, expand regional presence
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leav ..
Putin says plans to visit China in May
More Stories From World
-
Bagnaia and Spanish rivals chase victory at Jerez
29 minutes ago -
Russian, Ukrainian strikes kill at least 10 in frontline regions
39 minutes ago -
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
52 minutes ago -
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
52 minutes ago -
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leave after 20 years of ..
2 hours ago -
Putin says plans to visit China in May
2 hours ago
-
US reinstates open internet rules rescinded under Trump
2 hours ago -
Honda announces US$11 bn EV battery and vehicle plant in Canada
2 hours ago -
Portugal marks 50 years of democracy with far right on the rise
2 hours ago -
Oman, UAE deluge 'most likely' linked to climate change: scientists
3 hours ago -
BHP launches $38.8 billion takeover bid for rival Anglo American
3 hours ago -
Saudi oil giant Aramco agrees major FIFA sponsorship deal
3 hours ago