The 29th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) commences on Monday, November 11, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan, and Evans Njewa, Chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Climate Group, representing 45 countries and 1.1 billion people, has been commenting ahead of the international summit.
Njewa said: “The LDC Group urgently demands scaled up, new, additional, and easily accessible climate finance. Finance that meets the unique needs of our vulnerable communities, and is delivered as grants, not loans. For too long, debt burdens have crippled our economies and deepened our vulnerabilities.
“Through partially costed estimates, the LDCs alone are in need of at least $1 trillion by 2030 to implement our Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). A failure to conclude COP29 without a bold new finance goal would be a tragic disservice to both the planet and vulnerable populations.
“This year alone, severe flooding and landslides devastated lives and property across Nepal, Chad, Ethiopia, Bangladesh and more. The world must step up with a game-changing climate finance goal that matches the true scale of our needs. Not billions, but trillions.
“It’s more important than ever that countries remain committed to continuing to work together to address this global crisis and collectively step up efforts.
“COP29 must be clear on this, encouraging countries to submit strong new climate action plans – Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – early next year that are aligned with the 1.5°C goal. Additionally, our countries must be provided with adequate support to implement these plans.
“COP29 must also finalise the remaining rules on carbon markets, ensuring the market mechanisms support emissions reductions and don’t compromise environmental integrity.”
COP29 is expected to come to a close on Friday, November 22.
Vulnerable to environmental and economic shocks, and disproportionately affected by the climate crisis, LDC countries negotiate together as a bloc at UN climate talks to advance their shared interests in a fair and ambitious global response to climate change.
