Paying for climate change - 16th November 2022

The leaders of many countries went to COP27. They met in Egypt. They talked about climate change.

Rich countries make a lot of CO2. Now there's lots of bad weather. This is a big problem for poor countries.

Rich countries had a plan to help them. But this didn't happen. Now, these countries need more help. They want money for 'loss and damage'.

Disha Ravi says rich countries must pay.

Disha Ravi: "We are here today to ask world leaders to pay up for loss and damages in my country and other countries in the world that are on the frontline of the climate crisis, so we are here to ask today to show us the money."

Poor countries make very little CO2. But bad weather destroys their countries. They lose a lot.

Joan Maguy says this is serious.

Joan Maguy: "We have a flood in our country, landslides and also drought. We are asking our leaders to put loss and damage on the agenda while making negotiations. We need our leaders to act like this is an emergency because this is an emergency right now."

In 2022, there'll be one percent more CO2 in the air. This is the highest in the Earth's history. Africa only makes four percent of CO2.

Ina Maria wants the rich countries to pay poor countries.

Ina Maria: "Africa is not responsible for the emissions. We only contributed less than four percent, and the rest comes from the northern countries. And that's why they owe us this payment, this funding."

Ina Maria says climate change is everybody's fight.

Ina Maria: "What is happening in Africa, it affects Europe too, it affects North America, it affects all peoples. The climate crisis has no borders."