COP27: who pays for climate change?

Egypt played host to 2022's COP27 climate conference where they convened and deliberated urgent climate topics, 'loss and damage' being the hottest of them.

As developing nations bear the worst of the devastating effects of climate change including flooding, drought and wildfires, demands for loss and damage have come to the fore. Since pledges to aid developing nations 'green' their economies have failed to materialise, there's mounting pressure on the wealthier global north. Having benefited from industrialisation, developing countries argue compensation is due to alleviate their burden.

Representatives from some poorer nations battling the catastrophic effects of climate change protested outside the COP27 summit.

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."

Though the lowest CO2 emitters, developing nations bear the brunt of the most devastating blows of climate change.

Given the gravity of the situation, Joan Maguy is demanding loss and damage be put on the agenda.

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."

Preliminary research published in Earth System Science Data forecasts record highs in CO2 levels in 2022, with a further one percent atmospheric CO2 rise expected. This takes atmospheric CO2 a full 50 percent higher than the pre-industrial era, due to fossil fuel use.

Polluting nations must foot the bill in Namibian protestor Ina Maria's view.

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 reminds us that tackling the climate crisis is everyone's responsibility.

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."

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