ActionAid describes COP29 as test for wealthy nations

ActionAid has described COP29 as a test of wealthy countries’ commitment to securing a livable planet.

The organization and other civil society groups will push for rich, polluting nations to deliver much-needed climate finance to avert a worsening climate crisis.

ActionAid International’s Global Lead on Climate Justice, Teresa Anderson, highlighted the injustices developing countries face due to climate change.

“Frontline countries, who have done almost nothing to cause the problem, are being pushed deeper into debt by the climate crisis.”

“Yet they are the ones stuck with an escalating climate bill as they bear the costs of recovering from disasters, preparing for future impacts, and transitioning to green technologies,” Anderson said.

“Climate-hit countries desperately need COP29 to agree on a new climate finance goal worth trillions of dollars in grants each year,” Anderson said.

She added, “Instead of committing to providing the money to avert climate catastrophe, wealthy polluting countries are trying to avoid their responsibility. Not only are they attempting to pass the buck onto Global South countries, but they are also calling for exploitative loans and corporate investment to make up the bulk of the new climate finance.”

According to Anderson, COP29 is a test of wealthy countries’ commitment to securing a livable planet.

“If we want to unleash climate action on a scale that can save our future, the countries that caused the climate crisis must pay to fix the mess. Whatever the cost, paying for ambitious climate action now will be far cheaper than the cost of catastrophe later,” she said.

Farah Kabir, Country Director at ActionAid Bangladesh, emphasized that world leaders should remember that as they delay climate action, countries in the Global South suffer the worst impacts of the crisis despite contributing little to it.

“We want to remind world leaders at COP29 that as they drag their feet on climate action, countries in the Global South, like Bangladesh, continue to suffer the worst impacts.”

“In June, we were hit by Cyclone Remal, affecting over 4.7 million people. Before we could recover, we faced extensive flooding in August, affecting over 5 million people,” Kabir said.

“Communities in the Global South do not have the luxury of time. Time lost means more lives lost, greater destruction of property and livelihoods, and more severe food insecurity. We need climate finance now. These funds can unlock our communities’ ability to build resilience against the impacts of the climate crisis and shift to greener pathways,” she added.

The COP29 is slated to run from tomorrow to 22 November in Baku, Azerbaijan.