Read at 3 different speeds

Paying for climate change - 16th November 2022

World leaders met in Egypt for COP27. They spoke about the problems with climate change.

A lot of poorer countries experience destructive weather like floods, droughts and fires. They want richer countries to pay for a ‘loss and damage’ fund. This will help poor countries when these problems happen. Richer countries had promised to help poorer countries go green. This help never came. Now, poorer countries need money to rebuild after extreme weather.

Disha Ravi wants world leaders to take responsibility for pollution.

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."

Poorer countries produce the least CO2. But they experience the worst effects of climate change, which they didn’t cause.

Joan Maguy's country needs help. It's an emergency.

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."

CO2 in the air is increasing quickly. In 2022, it increased by one percent, which is the biggest increase in history.

African countries don’t produce much pollution. Most pollution is produced by rich, northern countries. Ina Maria says these countries should pay.

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 believes all countries must work together against climate change.

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."