* Vital to address funding issues for Climate Justice
* Sri Lanka committed to 1.5 Celsius limit
* Tropical Belt essential in fighting Climate Change
President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday called for a more transparent approach in addressing issues of global debt relief. He told the 28th session of the Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Dubai, UAE that such contentious issues should be tackled urgently, given the present climate crisis.
Highlighting the challenges faced by developing countries, President Wickremesinghe said they faced a disproportionate vulnerability and impact due to lower adaptive capacities in Finance, Technology, and Climate investments. He cited the Independent High-Level Expert Group Report on Climate Finance, which has indicated the need for at least a US$ 1 trillion per annum to combat Climate Change.
The President said: “The Independent High-Level Expert Group Report on Climate Finance highlighted that at least a trillion USD per annum is required to combat Climate Change. The Transitional Committee on the Operationalisation of Funding Arrangements in its Report on November 4, 2023 only calls for voluntary contributions to the “Loss and Damage fund”. The Report makes no mention of the funds needed or who the contributors are. It is silent on the issue of global debt relief. These are interconnected.
“Four days later, the Technical Dialogue of the First Global Stocktake highlighted the requirements of a minimum of US$ trillion per annum. To arrive at a consensus we need to take up this contentious issue. Who are we fooling?”.
President Wickremesinghe said Climate Justice must be accessible to all nations and proposed a resolution for a Climate Justice Forum. This forum, agreed upon at the 5th Forum of the Ministers of Environmental Authorities of Asia Pacific, aims to provide a platform for constructive and proactive engagements, with the proposal scheduled for the UN Environment Assembly on February 6, 2024. “The Climate Justice Forum will provide us a platform for constructive and proactive engagements. The Secretary General of the UN said, “The era of global boiling has arrived”. The enemy is at the gates. We are still procrastinating. We are still forming our battalions to take the fight to the enemy. Therefore, this fortnight is critical. It will determine whether we are capable of providing a leadership. Let us prove we can do so by action and delivery.” The President called for immediate action to find effective solutions, thinking outside the box and investing in the Tropical Belt to tackle the Triple Planetary Crisis. The Tropical Belt, covering 134 countries and 44 percent of the Earth’s surface, holds rich biodiversity and potential for renewable energy. President Wickremesinghe unveiled plans for a panel to report on the Tropical Belt Initiative, emphasizing its global impact. As the current Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), President Wickremesinghe said the health of the Indian Ocean was important in the context of Climate Change. He said a sustainable Blue Economy is essential to counter the adverse effects of rising sea levels, ocean acidification, coral bleaching, and extreme weather patterns.
President Wickremesinghe outlined plans to set up the International Climate Change University (ICCU) for capacity building and advancing research, operationalising it next year. The ICCU aims to contribute significantly to global efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The President said that Sri Lanka is committed to the 1.5 degree Celsius limit.
