Africa

Barbados Minister Shantal Munro-Knight talks about driving climate finance and resilience at COP29. Credit: Aishwarya Bajpai/IPS

By Aishwarya Bajpai
BAKU, Nov 18 2024 (IPS)

“This Finance COP has to deliver. I think this is a crucial moment for the COP process,” said Shantal Munro-Knight, Barbados Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Barbados, a nation at the forefront of climate advocacy, continues to push boundaries at COP29, the so-called Finance COP. Knight shared her views on the state of negotiations, the urgency of climate finance, and the innovative solutions her country is championing.

She expressed cautious optimism but acknowledged the slow pace of progress.

“We have some delegations already engaged, but at the same time, we haven’t moved fast enough. There’s still so much to work out—whether on quantum, structure, or trust deficits. Without clear and actionable commitments, we risk falling short of what’s truly needed.”

Barbados has been a key player in securing the Loss and Damage Fund, a significant achievement in global climate diplomacy. Yet Knight’s reflections on its progress reveal a mix of frustration and concern.

“A year later, I’m a little bit disappointed and frustrated, to be honest. We need USD 700 billion, and we’re not anywhere near that amount for the Loss and Damage Fund. There hasn’t been the level of commitment required to capitalize and operationalize it.”

The minister also highlighted how slow mitigation efforts exacerbate the need for adaptation, which, in turn, inflates costs for vulnerable nations like Barbados.

“Things are not moving as quickly as we need on the mitigation front. That means adaptation becomes more expensive for us. And because we’re not getting the scale of finance for adaptation, more of it ends up being pushed into loss and damage.”

Despite global inertia, Barbados has been proactive, innovating to address climate challenges head-on. Knight detailed some of these groundbreaking efforts.

“We’ve introduced initiatives like debt-for-climate swaps, our Blue-Green Bank, and natural disaster clauses in agreements. We’re trying to innovate on our own and call attention to what is needed. However, we still face challenges. We need both private and public capital to scale these solutions effectively.”

Barbados was also the first country to access the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust in 2022. “The IMF lowered interest rates on loans by 37 percent for us. That has allowed us to reinvest in climate finance and resilience building. But again, the pace of reform isn’t keeping up with the scale of the crisis.”

Barbados’ Bridgetown Initiative, which serves as a model for financial reform, has attracted attention from all over the world. Knight sees it as a pathway for mobilizing resources and challenging developed countries to take greater responsibility.

“We’re exploring new financing mechanisms like levies on the shipping and aviation industries—sectors that are significant contributors to emissions. If we’re serious about mitigation, we need to start taxing these large sectors and challenging them to do more.”

When asked whether Small Island Developing States (SIDS) should forge their own path given the sluggish response from developed countries, Knight emphasized dialogue and collaboration.

“We need more dialogue. A lot of developed countries are now facing domestic pressures for accountability on resource use, and some aren’t pledging at all. It’s about balancing those realities with the need for real investment that delivers results. Partners are essential for fostering dialogue that drives meaningful impact. As the Prime Minister puts it, the world needs more love—a sentiment often lost in formalities.”

Barbados has also adopted a holistic approach to climate resilience, combining policy, infrastructure, and legislative reforms. Knight outlined this strategy.

“We’ve launched the Barbados Prosperity Resilience Investment Plan and the Roof-to-Reef Investment Initiative. It’s a whole-of-government approach focused on five pillars of resilience building. This framework not only identifies priority areas for donor engagement but also ensures we have a coherent response to climate shocks.”

The minister added, “Our strategy spans all levels, from large-scale coastal projects to household-level initiatives like strengthening roofs. It ensures collaboration across sectors such as housing, transport, and tourism. This approach has helped us allocate resources to the areas that need them most.”

Ending on a powerful note, Knight reflected on the broader significance of COP29.

“This COP must deliver on rebuilding trust among national delegations and with communities. It’s about showing commitment to help people not just survive but thrive. Governments and the UN system must fulfill their responsibility to create a world where thriving is a right, not just a hope.”

As the world watches COP29, Barbados continues to exemplify resilience, innovation, and determination. Knight’s vision is clear: bold action, meaningful partnerships, and tangible results are the only way forward.
IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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A victory for the ruling party gives the president a strong mandate to implement promised reforms.

The United Nations delivers critical power generators to southern Gaza in an attempt to recalibrate water sanitation systems following damage from extensive Israeli bombardment. Credit: UNICEF/Mohammed Nateel

By Oritro Karim
UNITED NATIONS, Nov 18 2024 (IPS)

A new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) postulates that Israeli military practices in the Gaza Strip constitutes as war crimes. Released on November 14, the new report details the scale of destruction in the Gaza Strip over a 13-month period, during which time the Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) undertook a campaign to enact “deliberate, controlled demolitions of homes and civilian infrastructure” that were conducted to drive millions of Gazans out of their homes and inflict as much damage as possible.

The United Nations Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories has said that “The Israeli military’s use of AI-assisted targeting, with minimal human oversight, combined with heavy bombs, underscores Israel’s disregard of its obligation to distinguish between civilians and combatants and take adequate safeguards to prevent civilian deaths.”

HRW also urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to conduct an investigation. To properly abide by international humanitarian law, it is imperative for Israeli authorities to announce evacuation orders ahead of bombardments to minimize civilian harm. According to the report, the orders were “inconsistent, inaccurate, and frequently not communicated to civilians with enough time to allow evacuations or at all”.

Additionally, designated escape routes were regularly subjected to bombardment from the IDF. The widening of “buffer zones”, which are the areas between the Israeli-Palestinian border that are blocked off from Gazans, has been predicted to permanently displace thousands.

“The Israeli government cannot claim to be keeping Palestinians safe when it kills them along escape routes, bombs so-called safe zones, and cuts off food, water, and sanitation. Israel has blatantly violated its obligation to ensure Palestinians can return home, razing virtually everything in large areas,” says Nadia Harman, a migrant rights researcher at HRW.

On November 17, the IDF conducted an airstrike on a residential building housing six refugee families in Beit Lahiya. Gaza’s Ministry of Health confirmed that there were at least 72 civilian casualties from this attack, 30 percent of which were children. It is believed that many more civilians are still trapped underneath the rubble. This attack came only a few hours after two separate airstrikes killed 14 people in the nearby Nuseirat and Bureij refugee camps.

The IDF’s continued blockage of humanitarian aid has drawn immense criticism from humanitarian organizations and world representatives alike. According to the UN Special Committee, sustained military impediment of humanitarian aid, as well as targeted attacks on aid personnel indicates that Israel is “intentionally causing death, starvation and serious injury, using starvation as a method of war and inflicting collective punishment on the Palestinian population.”

Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and International Development Minister Ahmend Hussen expressed their concerns for the millions of displaced Gazans, especially as the harsh winter months approach, which are expected to exacerbate living conditions. “This means that civilians – men, women and children – are dying because of the lack of humanitarian assistance allowed into Gaza,” they added.

According to a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire and rapidly accelerating. It is predicted that famine is highly concentrated among populations residing in the northern sections of Gaza, which has been the most militaristically restricted. IPC describes Gaza’s current state as the “worst-case scenario”, adding that malnutrition, starvation, and disease are growing rampant in displacement shelters.

The Famine Review Committee (FRC) has warned that without effective action or intervention from those with influence, the scale of this “looming catastrophe” would likely “dwarf anything […] seen so far in the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023”.

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Credit: Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC)

By Holly Curry
WASHINGTON, Nov 18 2024 (IPS)

It is a hectic week for UN environmental conservation talks with simultaneous meetings occurring around the world: Climate change negotiations are entering their second week in Baku, Azerbaijan and the G20 takes place in Rio de Janeiro November 18-19—so, it’s understandable other important issues could get lost in the mix.

But that doesn’t mean they are any less deserving of attention. Consider the effort to protect the Southern Ocean, the vast and icy body of water encircling Antarctica and home to the world’s largest populations of krill, a shrimp-like crustacean that penguins, seals, whales, and seabirds depend on for food.

Last month, while delegates to the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Biological Framework met for the first time to take stock of their goal to protect 30 percent of the ocean by 2030, talks at the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) in Hobart, Tasmania collapsed over a dispute about krill fishing limits, casting uncertainty over the group’s commitment to establish a representative network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Southern Ocean.

While the outcome barely made headlines, which is typically the case for CCAMLR meetings, scientists are now bracing for summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Last July, at the peak of the antipodean winter, a heat wave swept Antarctica with temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius above the winter average.

The anomaly follows nearly a decade of decreases in the average maximum extent of sea ice with potentially catastrophic implications for global sea level rise and the region’s fragile ecosystems.

For example, iconic emperor penguin populations have been exhibiting a disconcerting response to the unprecedented changes. The species relies almost exclusively on sea ice as a breeding habitat and forages on krill. If the current warming trend continues unabated, the penguins face a decline of over 90 percent this century.

A 2023 study found that ocean warming and acidification are impacting krill behavior and population dynamics in the Southern Ocean, including a southward migration toward colder waters. A drop in krill numbers not only threatens the region’s megafauna that depend on it, but also the global carbon cycle.

It is estimated that the region’s krill sequester around 23 million tonnes of the heat-trapping gas, equivalent to carbon services provided by the planet’s blue carbon habitats, marshes, mangroves, and seagrass.

Moreover, a CCAMLR report published earlier this year documented a steady increase in the amount of krill harvested over the past decade.

The annual average landings of krill from 2019 to 2023 were 415,800 tonnes, compared to 266,000 tonnes for the previous five years. This season, 14 vessels, including four ships each from China and Norway, three from South Korea and one each from Chile, Russia and Ukraine, registered for the fishery compared to nine in 2023.

Time and again, research has shown that fully protected MPAs, where fishing and other commercial activities are prohibited, are one of the best steps governments can take to help marine life build genetic diversity and biomass, making them more resilient to fishing and climate change. There is also a spillover effect that benefits adjacent ecosystems as well as commercial fishing.

That is not to say that a host of issues confronting the Kunming-Montreal framework, COP29, and the G20 are less important, but those agreements are on track for medium-to-long term action, while final approval for Antarctica’s MPA network is tantalizingly close.

Decades of research has already identified areas that will deliver the most conservation benefit per square-kilometer and, as part of the Antarctic Treaty System, CCAMLR decisions needn’t go through a laborious ratification process. The body’s 26 member countries and the European Union only have to give the proposals a thumbs up.

At last count, only 8.35 percent of the global ocean is currently protected. If CCAMLR approved all four proposals ready for immediate implementation—East Antarctic; Weddell Sea, Phase 1; Antarctic Peninsula, Domain 1; and, Weddell Sea, Phase 2—they would protect 26 percent of the Southern Ocean and nearly 3 percent of the global ocean. It would be the largest single act of ocean conservation in history and represent a major contribution toward achieving the global 30×30 goal.

It has become apparent that Antarctic marine protections urgently require high level attention from leaders before the crisis slips out of hand. In 2023, the G20 endorsed expanding MPA’s in Antarctica. They now have an opportunity to give the process a boost by calling for the approval of the aforementioned MPA proposals no later than 2026 in their “Leaders’ Declaration”.

The world depends on a healthy Southern Ocean, and the future of the Southern Ocean requires leadership now.

Holly Parker Curry is the MPA Campaign Director for the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC).

IPS UN Bureau

 

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Fati N’zi-Hassane. Credit: Natalia Jidovanu/Oxfam

By Fati N’zi-Hassane
NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 18 2024 (IPS)

The 29th United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP29) currently underway in Baku, Azerbaijan, is a key global milestone for agreeing on a new compromise to reduce emissions and to provide to the Global South the much-needed finance to address the devastating consequences of the climate crisis.

While these climate talks must aim at having rich countries step up and contribute the resources needed, they must also be about how to ensure that the funds actually reach the most vulnerable…because right now, they don’t.

A study by Oxfam has shown that only 0.8% of the directly reported recipients of climate finance in the Sahel could be confidently defined as locally-based organizations. The bulk of climate finance goes to international organizations, an indicator of the level of exclusion that local actors still face in directly accessing and managing climate initiatives coming from international public finance.

Oxfam’s interviews with over 100 organizations in the Sahel – one of the regions most affected by climate change – revealed that a myriad of obstacles prevent civil society organizations from accessing available climate funds.

Application procedures are often too complex, and favor large, well-established organizations capable of meeting the bureaucratic requirements such as financial statements, letters of approval, environmental and social guarantees, proven experience in managing large budgets, and registration documents that are imposed on them.

Credit: Karelia Pallan/Oxfam

Documentation and information sessions are often in English, a less accessible language for many Sahelians, not to mention the fact that information doesn’t even reach them in communities where access to the internet and electricity is limited.

Many funding mechanisms require a financial contribution from the organization, or financial guarantees in the case of loans, or even a multi-year financial balance sheet including audits and financial statements, conditions that smaller organizations are not in a position to meet. Short deadlines for application discourage many.

The program objectives that guide the use of funds are often imposed without taking into account the real needs of the target communities.

Marginalized by social norms within their own communities, women lack access to decision-making bodies, capacity-building opportunities, and land ownership, which prevents them from accessing financing mechanisms that require land as collateral.

In addition, finance tends to be less accessible in contexts affected by conflict, insecurity, and other multidimensional factors of fragility. This is mainly due to a risk averse approach by donors leaving out these areas from their geographical priorities, but also because of the high cost related to implementation, the difficulty to access project areas, and questions about the sustainability of investments.

Yet, it is exactly these fragile and conflict affected communities that are facing most urgent needs to address climate-related impacts and build resilience. One way of improving the flow of climate finance to such areas would be by creating more direct access mechanisms for local authorities and community-based organizations. Ultimately, they are the ones who are best placed to manage the barriers above.

Among the highly inaccessible funds are the Adaptation fund, the Global Environment Fund, the Green Climate Fund, and funds from financial institutions, such as the World Bank or the African Development Bank.

Civil society organisations (CSOs) and local communities in the Global South are leading on climate solutions in their contexts, for example, as first responders when disaster strike in their community, or as leaders rallying their community around disaster risk reduction or environmental conservation projects.

It is not only fair but also highly effective that they are able to access and manage as much as possible the international climate finance flowing to their countries. With the Loss and Damage fund, created following COP27, becoming operational, it is important to avoid the pitfalls of other climate funds and to facilitate communities’ access to this new source of financing.

Some simple changes that can improve climate finance access include removing barriers such as co-financing requirements, improving information sharing, making application processes simple and establishing specific quotas and direct access funding windows for national and local civil society organizations, especially the ones representing farmers, indigenous peoples, women, youth or people with disabilities.

The success of COP29 will be measured not only by the quantity of funds committed, but also by the quality of their allocation. Only funds that actually reach the communities on the frontline of the climate crisis and truly meet their needs will contribute to delivering climate justice.

Fati N’zi-Hassane is Africa Director, Oxfam International

IPS UN Bureau

 

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Roland Kupers, a lead architect at the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) International Methane Emissions Observatory

By Umar Manzoor Shah
BAKU, Nov 18 2024 (IPS)

Methane emissions have emerged as a focal point of discussion as global leaders congregate at COP29 in Baku to tackle the escalating climate crisis.

In an exclusive interview with IPS, Roland Kupers, a lead architect at the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) International Methane Emissions Observatory, outlined actionable strategies to curb methane emissions by 2030, the challenges ahead, and the crucial role of international cooperation.

The Methane Problem: Sectoral Challenges and Opportunities

“Methane emissions are not a singular issue but rather a collection of problems spanning five key sectors: oil and gas, coal, waste, rice, and livestock,” Kupers said.  He adds that each sector requires tailored solutions.

“UNEP has prioritized the oil and gas industry due to its substantial potential for reduction.”

“The oil and gas industry could achieve a 75 percent reduction in methane emissions by 2030. It’s not only affordable but also feasible, given the industry’s access to technology, capital, and expertise,” Kupers said, adding that the waste sector also presents significant opportunities, although organizing mitigation measures in this sector poses logistical challenges.

UNEP’s approach includes creating detailed programs to address emissions in high-impact industries like oil, gas, and steel.

“Methane emissions account for a third of the climate footprint of steel production, yet they can be eliminated at a cost of less than 1% of steel’s production price.”

Data: A Cornerstone for Action

Kupers also underlined the critical role of accurate data in driving methane mitigation efforts.

“Data is essential for human agency. Without precise, measurement-based data, it’s impossible to identify and address the specific sources of emissions effectively.”

According to him, many existing datasets rely on emission factors derived from outdated studies. UNEP advocates transitioning to real-time, site-specific measurements to better target interventions.

“When you gather accurate data, you often find emissions in unexpected places, stressing the need for precise monitoring.”

Systemic Shifts in the Energy Sector

To align with the 2030 climate goals, Kupers argues for a fundamental transformation of the global energy system.

“While mitigating methane emissions is crucial, it’s not a substitute for decarbonization. The ultimate objective must be to eliminate fossil fuels entirely.”

He also highlighted the health benefits of reducing methane emissions.

“Methane, both directly and through incomplete combustion, contributes to significant local health hazards.”

The Financial Perspective

While climate discussions often center around the financial challenges of adaptation and mitigation, Kupers believes that addressing methane emissions, particularly in the oil and gas sector, is not a financial burden.

“The oil and gas industry is highly profitable and well-resourced. It has no excuse for not addressing its methane emissions,” Kupers said, adding that even oil and gas operations in developing countries operate in highly sophisticated, well-funded environments.

Responsibilities of Developed Nations

The methane issue differs from broader climate equity debates, Kupers explained.

“For methane emissions in oil and gas, the responsibility to act is universal. Whether in Nigeria, Argentina, or Indonesia, the industry operates with the same high standards and capabilities as in developed countries.”

This universality makes methane mitigation a “climate good news story,” as it bypasses some of the equity challenges seen in broader decarbonization debates.

Barriers to Progress

Despite decades of climate discussions, significant hurdles remain in addressing global warming. He attributes the slow progress to a lack of prioritization and awareness about methane’s role.

“Methane has only recently gained prominence on the global agenda. The science highlighting its importance has emerged in the past decade,” Kupers said. Policymakers are often unaware of methane’s substantial climate footprint or the cost-effective solutions available.

Key COP-29 Objectives

“UNEP has established ambitious goals for methane mitigation. The Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP 2.0), a UNEP-led initiative, currently includes companies responsible for 42 percent of global oil and gas production. Kupers urged more companies to join, with the aim of achieving 80 percent participation,” Kupers said.

Another critical initiative is the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS), which integrates data from a dozen satellites to identify significant emission sources. UNEP then notifies governments and companies of these emissions.

“Over the past year, we’ve sent 1,200 notifications to governments, but the response rate has been dismal—just 1 percent,” Kupers said, a disappointing lack of engagement that points to the need for stronger accountability measures at COP29.

The Stakes: Why Methane Matters

Human-induced methane emissions are responsible for a third of the current warming. Unlike CO2, which is often a byproduct of energy use, methane emissions are largely waste streams. This makes them easier to address and a critical opportunity for climate action.

“Methane mitigation is not just an environmental necessity but a low-hanging fruit. It’s a solvable problem, and we must seize this opportunity,” Kupers said.

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Srilata Kammila, Head of Climate Change Adaptation at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Credit: UNDP

By Umar Manzoor Shah
BAKU, Nov 18 2024 (IPS)

Empowering communities, fostering innovation and integrating socio-economic contexts into climate strategies are crucial for effective adaptation to climate change, says Srilata Kammila, Head of Climate Change Adaptation at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

In an exclusive interview with Inter Press Service, Kammila shed light on the agency’s pioneering approaches to locally-led climate adaptation.

“Locally-led adaptation isn’t just about governments or international agencies imposing solutions,” she said. “It’s about engaging communities in designing projects based on their specific vulnerabilities, socio-economic contexts, and indigenous knowledge.”

This approach, according to Kammila, ensures that adaptation strategies address the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable groups, including women, youth, and ethnic minorities. For instance, during the design phase of adaptation projects, extensive stakeholder consultations inform decisions, blending climate science with local realities.

“We recognize that vulnerable communities often bear the brunt of climate change,” Kammila told IPS in an interview. “By involving them in decision-making, we not only ensure equitable solutions but also harness their unique knowledge and resilience.”

Innovative Models for Locally-Led Solutions

She says that UNDP’s Adaptation Innovation Marketplace (AIMA) stands out as an example of fostering local innovation. This platform, according to Kammila, provides grants ranging from USD 60,000 to USD 250,000 to support grassroots entrepreneurs and organizations.

“We’ve backed projects like floating aquaponics farms in India, benefiting over 5,700 households, and climate-resilient housing in the Sahel,” Kammila says.

She adds that beyond financial support, AIMA offers technical assistance, business advisory services, and peer-to-peer networking. These measures, she claims, help local innovators scale their projects and embed climate adaptation strategies into their enterprises.

“This model isn’t just about funding; it’s about building capacity. From farming innovations to agroforestry, we’re enabling communities to develop solutions tailored to their realities.”

Integrating Local and National Planning

A critical aspect of UNDP’s work, according to Kammila, involves bridging national adaptation strategies with local needs. National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) often guide overarching priorities, but localized plans dive deeper into region-specific vulnerabilities and opportunities.

Kammila cited Mozambique’s example, where the government developed local adaptation plans in 11 districts. These plans consider specific climate risks, such as rainfall patterns and crop requirements, to implement targeted solutions.

“Adapting national strategies to local contexts is essential. What works for a farm in Mozambique might not suit one in India. By downscaling adaptation plans, we ensure that local governments and communities take the lead in shaping their futures.”

Building Long-Term Resilience

The UNDP also collaborates with governments to integrate climate adaptation into broader development policies. This includes strengthening governance mechanisms, building local capacity, and ensuring climate finance reaches those who need it most.

“From ministries of finance to local farmers, everyone must be part of the conversation. Adaptation isn’t a one-time effort; it’s an iterative process. Risks evolve, and so must our strategies.”

UNDP has supported over 60 countries in developing NAPs, enabling them to integrate climate risks into their development agendas.

“This process not only builds resilience but also unlocks resources for sustainable growth.”

The Path Ahead

Despite significant progress, Kammila acknowledged the challenges ahead.

“We’ve laid the foundation, but scaling these efforts requires sustained commitment and innovation,” she said.

By prioritizing locally-led initiatives, the UNDP is proving that communities are not just victims of climate change but vital agents of change.

“Climate adaptation is most effective when it’s rooted in the lived realities of those it seeks to serve.”

Localized Innovation and Technical Assistance

Climate adaptation doesn’t necessitate high-tech imports from developed nations but should focus on locally appropriate solutions, Kamilla explains.

“Innovation depends on what’s needed in that context—whether it’s drought resilience or flood management. Technical assistance, technology transfer, and capacity building must include awareness of climate risks not just now, but how we know they will unfold.”

This approach involves extensive studies on climate risks, projecting potential impacts over five to ten years.  She adds that UNDP’s Green Climate Fund projects, for instance, begin with consultations involving community-based organizations to ensure that adaptation solutions align with the needs of vulnerable populations, especially women.

Incorporating Gender Perspectives

Gender equity is central to UNDP’s climate adaptation framework. Kammila highlighted a project in Bangladesh that focuses on the Sundarbans region, where women are often disproportionately affected by climate-induced migration and socio-economic challenges.

“In the Sundarbans, men frequently migrate to urban areas, leaving women with limited resources and agency. The project, implemented with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs rather than the Ministry of Environment, prioritizes women’s needs, ensuring they benefit from water and adaptation solutions,” Kammila says.

UNDP, she says, employs gender-disaggregated data to monitor how projects impact women specifically.

“For instance, if a project targets 200,000 people, we aim to ensure a significant percentage are women. This involves examining how women in households directly benefit from water solutions or other interventions.”

Challenges in Integrating Adaptation with Development

While UNDP supports governments in integrating climate adaptation into national development goals, the actual integration is the responsibility of governments.

This process, according to Kammila, is however fraught with challenges. She says the key hurdles include data and information deficiencies, as developing countries often lack observational networks and forecasting capacities critical for understanding climate risks at granular levels.

She also noted Institutional and Human Capacity Gaps as many Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS) struggle with limited expertise in adaptation planning. “

“Also, we have community-level awareness. Local governments and communities frequently lack understanding of effective adaptation strategies, necessitating education and training. And then we have financial constraints, as adaptation requires additional financing, often unavailable through traditional development budgets. Instruments like the Green Climate Fund (GCF) are vital to bridging this gap,” Kammila told IPS.

Mobilizing Climate Finance

“We’ve mobilized USD 1.6 billion in active portfolios, unlocking USD 3 billion in co-financing. This funding supports sectors such as agriculture, water management, disaster preparedness, and ecosystem-based adaptation.”

In practical terms, says Kammila, UNDP assists governments in combining their development budgets with climate finance to ensure resilience. For example, irrigation investments are augmented with climate-sensitive funds to make them adaptive. “We oversee and monitor the funds to ensure proper use, applying environmental, social, and gender safeguards.”

Expectations from COP

As the global community gathers for the COP29 at Baku, finance remains a central theme. Kammila acknowledges the urgency. “This is now or never. A major focus is on setting a new global climate finance target. The challenge is ensuring sufficient and timely resources for adaptation, particularly for vulnerable countries. Yeah, I mean, absolutely, it’s the finance COP. A big focus of this is, as you know, the new global climate finance target.”

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Murray Dowey, from Dunblane, was only 16 when he ended his life last year.

Experts from diverse fields seek answers to the question of what really makes people safe at an event organized by Soka Gakkai International and partners. Credit: Joyce Chimbi/IPS

By Joyce Chimbi
BAKU, Nov 18 2024 (IPS)

At a time when the COP29 summit is primarily focused on climate finance as a tool to cool catastrophically high global temperatures and reverse consequences for all life on earth, delegates—alarmed and concerned by the state of world peace and stability—are seeking ways to enhance safety.Delegates at a side event organized by Soka Gakkai International (SGI) and SGI-UK, British Quakers, Quaker Earthcare Witness, and Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers), Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), explored key questions on what climate action approaches contribute to a safer world for people and planet or risk a more unsafe world.

“We are negotiating in this COP for increased finance, yet everyone in this room who is a major fossil fuel extraction country, except Colombia, is increasing their oil and gas extraction. And outside, war is spreading, and finance for the military is at levels higher than at any time since the Cold War. We bring experts from various walks of life into discussions on what really makes us safe,” said event moderator Lindsey Fielder Cook from the Quaker United Nations Office. 

There were experts on techno-fixed reliance and risks to techno-fixed reliance, military spending, peace activists, climate finance in fragile states, and also others who spoke about their lives, faith, and working with youth. They talked about peace, climate finance, and climate action in an existential time and how human activities are also driving existential rates of species extinction and chemical pollution as we know.

Andrew Okem from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and an expert in science adaptation, vulnerability, and impacts observed, “Science has given us a range of actions that we as a society can implement and can contribute towards making our society better and safer for all of us, such as building climate-resilient agri-food systems. This includes diversifying climate-smart coping and climate-smart practices. Rapid decarbonization is critical, hence the need to phase out fossil fuels and a shift to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower.”

Tackling issues of peace and climate finance amid climate and conflict-driven existential threats. Credit: Joyce Chimbi/IPS

Okem spoke about the need for nature-based solutions, integrated water management, sustainable cities, and inclusive governance and decision-making. Emphasizing that any further delay “in concerted, anticipated global action on adaptation and mitigation will miss this great and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a developed and sustainable future for all.”

Lucy Plummer, member of the international grassroots lay Buddhist organization Soka Gakkai International, which actively engages in society in the areas of peace, culture, and education, said she wanted to “amplify the COP16 message. We need to make peace with nature. I have closely followed discussions, including the round table on the global framework on children, youth, peace, and climate security.”

Saying that it was encouraging that the interconnection of climate and peace is being recognized and that there was great support for this initiative from states and other key stakeholders. But Plummer also felt that the most key issue was not mentioned at all—”our ongoing war with nature. It is a war because there is so much violence in the way that we relate to nature. We urgently need to disarm our ways of thinking about nature.”

“In yesterday’s peace talks and in all of the talks happening all around the COP29, this vital piece of the puzzle is missing. Humans’ separation from nature is the root of the climate crisis, and unless we rectify this and make peace with nature, we simply will not have the wisdom needed to resolve this crisis and prevent so much suffering. The Indigenous peoples know it and have been coming to these COPs every year trying to get us to understand this. Their messages have not changed. They get it, but for some reason we are not ready to hear it or we do not want to hear it.”

Dr. Duncan McLaren, a research fellow from the UCLA School of Law and an expert in technofixes and ethical mitigation options, spoke about his research that explores the justice and political implications of global technologies, including carbon removal. His recent work explores the geopolitics of geoengineering and the governance of carbon removal techniques in the context of net zero policy goals.

“Climate insecurity is all around us. We’ve seen floods, wildfires, droughts, and storms. Clearly, emissions cuts alone can no longer avert dangerous climate change. It is wishful thinking that we can avoid reaching 1.5 degrees Celsius with just more emissions at 8,000. So that is why I have been looking at other technologies and how they might work. Carbon removal can contribute to climate repair, the repair of humanity’s relationship with the earth,” McLaren emphasized.

“Carbon removal techniques can help us counterbalance recalcitrant emissions to achieve net zero. And more importantly, deal with the unfairly generated legacy of excess emissions. But as Professor Corrie and I show in our briefing paper for the Quaker UN Office, they will only make us safer if we keep the tasks they ask us to do small. Emissions need to be cut by 95 percent.”

Harriet Mackaill-Hill from International Alert spoke about climate, conflict, and finance and the need to define the COP29 New Collective Quantified Goal through these lenses.  She said the linkages between “climate and conflict are well established. While climate is never the sole cause of conflict, it is very much a stressor. Climate will exacerbate various stressors for conflict. These can be human security, food security, or competition over natural resources, which will in turn very much create and worsen conflict. How can people adapt to the impacts of climate change when in extreme vulnerability, sometimes conflict, when livelihoods or lives are at stake?”

Deborah Burton, co-founder of Tipping Point North South, spoke about the intersection between military spending and climate finance. Giving a perspective on what makes people unsafe in terms of military spending and military missions, she said there is a need to understand “the scale of global military missions in peacetime and war and the associated scale of military spending that enables those missions.”

“They combine to achieve one thing and one thing only: the undermining of human safety in this climate emergency. So, the estimated global military carbon footprint, and it is an estimate because it’s not fully reported by any stretch of the imagination, is estimated to be at 5.5 percent of total global emissions. This is more than the combined annual emissions of the 54 nations of the African continent. It is twice as much as emissions of civilian aviation, and that estimate does not include conflict-related emissions.”

Shirine Jurdi spoke of her lived experience from Lebanon linking to climate finance. She said, “There is no climate justice during war, and there is no ecological justice during war. With every bomb that drops, the land, the sea, and the people suffer irreparable harm.”

Stressing that “safety is not only about survival and its destruction. It is about thriving in peace under skies that are blue, not filled with smoke or phosphorus bombs. To create a safer world, let’s stop colonization and redirect resources from destruction to building sustainable, productive communities. Let us invest in ecological peacebuilding and restore the lands and the ecosystems damaged by conflict.”

Note: This article is brought to you by IPS Noram in collaboration with INPS Japan and Soka Gakkai International in consultative status with ECOSOC.

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Alab Mirasol Ayroso making her speech during the Youth Action in the hallways of COP29, Baku. Credit: Joyce Chimbi/IPS

By Joyce Chimbi
BAKU, Nov 17 2024 (IPS)

“We cannot rely on capitalistic logic to serve our fight for liberation. More investments will not build houses after floods because it’s not profitable. Corporations will not overthrow the industrial-agricultural complex that is completing our assault.”

So say the Alliance of Non-Governmental Radical Youths and People’s Rising for Climate Justice Youth that jointly led this youth action at the COP29 venue.

“That is why we are here to fight for the technical details to prevent the harm that money can cause. We cannot accept more loans and more debt. Climate finance cannot ‘financialize’ the climate crisis in power markets or fault solutions.”

Speaking to IPS, Alab Mirasol Ayroso said that the youth action is about their “demands as young people. We talked about fossil fuels, the phase-out of fossil fuels and more importantly, we talked about false solutions and militarization. Mostly, it’s really about recognizing the human rights in these negotiations, in these spaces where we can have real solutions if we only listen to the people on the ground.”

Drawn from all corners of the world, the youths have coalesced around issues that matter to them. Issues that they say are not a priority agenda for COP29 negotiations. They sang, chanted and, one after the other, made powerful speeches about climate change, peace and unity, human and environmental rights, the end of fossil fuels, climate debt and that rich countries and high polluters must pay.

Hajar, one of the speakers at the Youth Action, stressed that the “wealthiest nation must confront their colonial histories and make meaningful progress on reparation for loss and damage caused by their climate crisis. On demilitarization and its connection to finance stands a huge capitalist market that benefits from slaughtering, killing, and exploitation. Yet when we ask for money, there is always the same answer. There is not enough money.”

Ayroso says the young people can see through the smokescreen, hypocrisy, double speak, a lack of climate commitment and the youth agenda: “There is a lot of money. There is enough money all around, but we also know it is going to militarism, wars and genocides. There is simply no political will. This is why we refuse to be sidelined and silenced. We want the world to listen, hear us and our demands.”

“When the fire gets high. When the smoke rolls in. When the people rise. Can you hear us sing? It’s the end of fossil fuels. The end of fossil fuels. When the water gets high. When the flood rolls in. When the people rise. Can you hear us sing? It’s the end of fossil fuels. The end of fossil fuels. When the heat gets high. When the tide walks in. When the people rise. Can you hear us sing? It’s the end of fossil fuels,” they sang.

The youth want direct access for indigenous peoples, youth, children, workers, women, LGBTQIA and people with disabilities. Vowing to stand united at COP29 “until the last minute. We are in these halls to fight for our rights. There is no climate justice without human rights.

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In Sudan Children are facing climate and conflict challenges at the same time. Photo: JC Mcllwaine/Flickr

By Tanka Dhakal
BAKU, Nov 17 2024 (IPS)

As the world grapples with ongoing armed conflicts, from Ukraine to Gaza, advocacy for a more proactive approach to understanding and effectively responding to the needs of children affected by both armed conflict and climate-induced crises is growing.

A paper published in 2023 confirmed the link between climate insecurity and grave violations against children in armed conflict, including recruitment, use, and denial of humanitarian access. The Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) highlighted this connection in a study titled “Climate Insecurity Impacts on Children and Armed Conflict.” 

The study suggested that decision-makers and practitioners should integrate a dual approach, incorporating both a climate lens and a child-centered lens into their work.

One year after this report was published, world leaders gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the UN climate conference, COP29, and the call to integrate climate, armed conflict, and their impact on children has gained momentum.

Virginia Gamba, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC). Credit: UN Photo

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) emphasized the importance of addressing the links between climate, peace, security, and the children and armed conflict agenda.

“From the Lake Chad Basin to Syria, from Mozambique to Myanmar, in 2024, children have been the most impacted by both armed conflict and climate insecurity. Yet, children affected by armed conflict remain largely absent from ongoing climate, peace, and security discussions. We must change our approach to include these children if we are seeking inclusive and sustainable solutions,” Gamba said.

“Incorporating a climate perspective in our monitoring and reporting is also essential to better tailor our actions to end and prevent grave violations against children in armed conflict.”

According to UNICEF’s Children’s Climate Security Risk Index, nearly half of the world’s children—approximately 1 billion—live in extremely high-risk countries, where climate change contributes to conflict-related displacement.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNICEF produced the Guiding Principles for Children on the Move in the Context of Climate Change, which provides additional explanation of children’s movement in the context of climate change. The report notes that while the rights of children displaced by conflict and climate change should be protected, governments and humanitarian actors often struggle to access and assist these children due to conflict.

The Special Representative calls on all leaders not to overlook children affected by conflict in climate, peace, and security discussions and to include them in financial commitments supporting sustainable solutions for both peace and climate.

Gamba added, “In a context where CAAC is often underfunded in humanitarian responses, supporting flexible funding for emergency response that considers both children affected by armed conflict and climate peace and security can have a multiplier effect and provide sustainable solutions to closely linked issues. We will continue to highlight these connections.”

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Some pioneers see it as opportunity but others fear the continent's creativity will be stripped for profit.

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Erik Solheim, former director of the UN Environment Programme and former Norwegian Minister of Environment and International Development at COP29. Credit: Joyce Chimbi/IPS

By Joyce Chimbi
BAKU, Nov 17 2024 (IPS)

It has been a high-profile packed agenda in Baku, Azerbaijan, marked by milestone events designed to complete the first enhanced transparency framework and the new collective quantified goal on finance, among other top priority matters.

Besides the Conference of the Parties (COP 29) session, there is the 19th meeting of the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, the sixth meeting of the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement and the 61st sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 61) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 61).

IPS spoke to Erik Solheim, a former director of the UN Environment Programme and former Norwegian Minister of Environment and International Development, about the ongoing negotiations and what they mean to the global community amidst many pressing challenges.

“I think there is a breakthrough at this conference, which is not appreciated by everyone as it looks very technical, but that is the agreement on rules for the carbon market. The carbon market is much more likely to produce substantial money than the negotiations, which are somewhat stalled, and here you have a mechanism that will make it possible for the big tech companies in the world—for airlines, medical companies, and food companies—to provide for carbon offsets, which will be mangrove restoration in Sri Lanka, natural farming in Andhra Pradesh in India, reforestation in Brazil, and protection of forests in Guyana,” he explained.

Solheim, who is working on green programs in China and India, was referencing a critical early success as Parties already reached consensus on standards for the creation of carbon credits under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement. The consensus is vital as it will increase demand for carbon credits and, by doing so, enable climate action while ensuring that the international carbon market operates with integrity under the supervision of the United Nations.

The full operationalization of Article 6 has been a key negotiating priority at this year’s Summit. The COP29 Presidency has termed the consensus a game-changing tool to direct resources to the developing world. Finalizing Article 6 negotiations could reduce the cost of implementing national climate plans by USD 250 billion per year by enabling cooperation across borders.

“There are so many potential assets and you have an easy mechanism where well-off companies can provide substantial money. Those nations that caused the climate problem should pay for it, and those nations are in particular the United States of America, which has emitted eight times as much per capita as China and 25 times as much as India per capita, and if you compare to small island developing states or Africa, the difference is even bigger,” he said.

Solheim says the issues are difficult and complex and more so as the United States is “now telling the world that we have caused the problem, but you will sort it out. That is completely irresponsible and people are dissatisfied with that position. However, I also believe that this mechanism we have established for global climate finance is dysfunctional, very bureaucratic, and has a number of dysfunctional rules. So even if you put more money into them, they will not work.”

As things stand, he says the main avenues for climate finance are private investment, that China is providing enormous private investment through the Belt and Road, and that the West should follow up with private investment in difficult markets. The other avenue is the carbon market. On COP Summit setbacks and shortfalls, he says there is too much focus on diplomacy, which derails progress: “In Glasgow, there was an enormous quarrel on whether to phase down or phase out coal. It had no significance whatsoever on the world outside.”

“In Dubai, the issue was… in what way should we phase out coal? Again, hardly any impact on the outside world. It was not driving the change. It is something completely different. The price of solar energy has fallen by 90 percent and that of wind energy has fallen by 85 percent. So for any nation that switches from coal or fossil fuels to solar, it is not a cost. You generate income as it is much cheaper,” he says.

Stressing that only a complete change of the economic considerations is driving climate action everywhere in the world but at the same time, climate conferences are vital as they bring communities from all corners of the world together, creating an opportunity for business deals, exchange of views, as well as learning of best practices.

He calls for a change in perspective such as the one demonstrated by China and India, as “they are now world leaders in green transformation and not because they get money from someone else, but because they see it as a nation-building tool for economic development. I would like to see a change in the atmosphere, from talks to a focus on the political economy.”

“China last year provided two-thirds of all new green energy in the entire world. Let the rest of the world step back to Chinese levels; if possible, then we will be far on the way to solving the problem. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India just launched a plan for 10 million homes and buildings in India with rooftop solar. Let other nations follow such workable solutions and the world will go very far and achieve desired progress very fast,” he stressed.

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