UNITED NATIONS, C.M.C. – Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne Friday stated that the United Nations Local weather Change Convention (C.O.P. 28) to be held in Dubai in November will likely be essential for the planet’s future, tiny island growth states (S.I.D.S.).
“Not solely does COP28 come when the world is witnessing local weather chaos firsthand, however this summit is essential as a result of it’ll embody a world stocktake. International locations will assess how far they’ve come on chopping planet-heating air pollution,” Browne advised the 78th session of the United Nations Normal Meeting (U.N.G.A.).
C.O.P. 28 takes place in Dubai from November 30 to December 12. Prime Minister Browne advised the worldwide group that the terrible reality is already clear eight years after the local weather settlement in Paris, “international progress has been removed from ample.
“The world is at the moment not consistent with the temperature targets outlined within the Paris Settlement,
In response to the European Union’s Local weather Change Service, this yr’s June to August interval was not solely the warmest since 1940, but it surely additionally noticed temperatures hovering in the direction of 1.5 levels Celsius above pre-industrial ranges.”
Browne stated {that a} crimson line as soon as deemed holy, will likely be crossed if pressing motion is just not taken, saying warnings have turned to imminent hazard.
“Subsequently, what was already a vital matter for motion at COP28 has develop into crucial. And that’s the Loss and Injury Fund for which small island states have been praying, pleading, and begging.”
Prime Minister Browne recalled that on the COP27 final yr, the world’s biggest polluters agreed “solely on the final minute that such a fund was needed.
“However the settlement wanted to be established. We obtained the formation of a transitional committee to make suggestions for consideration at COP28. The difficulty was as soon as once more deferred.
“We should insist at COP28 that the loss and harm fund have to be operational and adequately funded. It should additionally present ample financing to assist S.I.D.S. face up to the inevitable destroy that the actions of the foremost polluters proceed to wreak.”
Prime Minister Pierre, additionally the co-chair of the Fee of Small Island States on Local weather Change and Worldwide Regulation (C.O.S.I.S.), warned that if COP28 fails on this crucial mission, it dangers undermining international belief, probably sabotaging cooperative efforts on myriad international challenges.
“It’s my ardent hope that once we collect in Dubai, the shared spirit of duty will prevail, such that the flame of motion can reignite the dying embers of hope,” he stated.
Prime Minister Browne stated that Antigua and Barbuda has launched into methods, constructing alliances with the keen, to counter the threats all of them face from the impacts of local weather change, and the failure of the worldwide monetary establishments and their policymakers to answer the pressing wants of our peoples.
He stated one such initiative led to the formation of C.O.S.I.S. earlier this month, which sought an Advisory Opinion from the Worldwide Tribunal of the Regulation of the Sea (I.T.L.O.S.) regarding the obligation of states to fight air pollution linked to local weather change and its ensuing marine repercussions, comparable to rising ocean temperatures, sea-level rise, and ocean acidification.
He defended the choice to take the matter earlier than the I.T.L.O.S., saying it’s the guardian of the 1U.N.2 U.N. Conference on the Regulation of the Sea.
“It’s the pure venue to hunt authorized readability on the obligations of states to guard our marine surroundings. S.I.D.S. are primarily maritime states. We rely on the ocean for sustenance, a vital a part of our heritage and id. The ocean can be an important carbon sink.”
Browne stated that with growing ocean and terrestrial temperatures reaching file highs this summer time, burning the planet, and concurrently inflicting unprecedented storms, flooding, and droughts, all nations should act now to safeguard the oceans as a crucial element of the Earth’s local weather system.
He stated that the international locations of C.O.S.I.S. should not in search of to rewrite legal guidelines, however “we’re in search of readability on current ones.
“S.I.D.S. can not sit idly whereas our international locations sink beneath our ft or are crippled by a burden of debt, as we’re left – deserted by the worldwide system to rebuild inside our restricted means, one catastrophe after one other,” Brown stated, noting that taking a case to I.T.L.O.S. is just not an initiative only for the survival of S.I.D.S.
“It’s a very important effort to protect and prosper all nations in our shared world.
On this connection, Antigua and Barbuda and the opposite members of C.O.S.I.S. may also stand with this Normal Meeting in its resolution, initiated by Vanuatu, to hunt an Advisory Opinion from the Worldwide Court docket of Justice on the obligations of states regarding local weather change. We contemplate this an obligation of take care of the world’s peoples.”
Prime Minister Browne, who’s amongst a number of Caribbean Neighborhood (C.A.R.I.C.O.M.) leaders that may deal with the U.N.G.A., stated that S.I.D.S. has additionally championed the necessity for the adoption of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) to switch the Gross Nationwide Earnings (G.N.I.) per capita as a main measure for concessionary financing.
“S.I.D.S., although not the poorest international locations, are extremely susceptible to local weather and different shocks, and lack resilience as a result of structural issues; restricted human and monetary assets, lack of economies of scale and better prices as a result of their isolation from vital manufacturing hubs. “
Browne stated, due to this fact, the only criterion of per capita earnings, “denying us entry to concessional financing, is unfair and unjust,
“The MVI is not only a software; it’s our gateway to important financing, to strong nationwide planning, to debt servicing, and probably our ultimate beacon when in search of insurance coverage and compensation in opposition to the rising tides,” he stated, promising to proceed to advance these contentions within the worldwide monetary establishments.”
He stated that S.I.D.S. will elevate “this pressing challenge” on the joint assembly of the Worldwide Financial Fund (I.M.F.) and World Financial institution in Marrakesh subsequent month.
“We name on all S.I.D.S. and all fair-minded international locations to hitch us in advancing the MVI as an important element in facilitating entry to concessional financing.”
Browne knowledgeable the worldwide physique that his island will host the Fourth Worldwide Convention on Small Island Creating States from Could twenty seventh -Thirtieth, 2024, underneath the theme “Charting the Course In the direction of Resilient Prosperity”.
“I’ve highlighted the stark realities confronted by S.I.D.S. We’re grappling with the impacts of world phenomena, from the lingering results of COVID to local weather change and the worldwide financial and monetary repercussions of Russia’s incursion into Ukraine.
“Moreover, we’re burdened with staggering money owed, unfavorable commerce phrases, and a world monetary structure that fails to satisfy our wants. Our upcoming convention is greater than only a discussion board,” he stated, including, “We should goal to develop a daring, decade-long technique that may illuminate the trail ahead, addressing our distinctive and interconnected challenges to make sure a resilient and affluent future for our residents.”
Prime Minister Browne stated that given these challenges, and in collaboration with the non-public sector U.N.d UN entities, Antigua and Barbuda will set up a Centre of Excellence for S.I.D.S. that may allow all S.I.D.S. to realize sustainable, resilient prosperity.
“The reality is unavoidable: many main greenhouse fuel emitting international locations haven’t met their commitments. The beforehand set boundary, a temperature rise of not more than 1.5 levels Celsius above pre-industrial ranges, will likely be breached on the present trajectory.
“The dangers we face should not simply on the horizon; they’re right here and now, requiring an pressing dedication to scale back emissions. Small Island States’ capability to regulate and to construct resilience can not preserve tempo with the quick incidence of maximum local weather occasions,” he provides, emphasizing “that we are going to undergo first, however what we are going to endure is simply the precursor of the destiny, of each nation.”
The Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister additionally famous that his island asserts that local weather justice and reparatory justice are deeply intertwined and that it’s important for the U.N.G.A. to know that local weather justice is just not a standalone concern.
“Traditionally, the nations that thrived on the commercial revolution did so on the backs of enslaved and victimized generations from the Caribbean and different corners of the African diaspora.
“It’s unjust that international locations that paid the very best human worth are bearing the heaviest local weather burden, Browne stated, noting {that a} recU.N.t U.N. Report aptly underscores that whereas authorized routes to compensation could also be advanced, it not at all nullify the ethical and moral obligations stemming from these historic wrongs.
“We urge the nations complicit at the hours of darkness legacy of enslavement to acknowledge, reconcile, and redress soonest. Our shared future have to be constructed on justice, understanding, and cooperation.”
As has been the case earlier than, Prime Minister Browne joined the refrain of Caribbean leaders calling on america to finish its 60-year commerce and financial embargo in opposition to Cuba and the sanctions imposed in opposition to Venezuela.
“I urge america to revisit its stance on Cuba. It’s excessive time for the U.S. U.S. to take away Cuba from its record of state sponsors of terrorism and to carry an finish to the outdated embargo that harms the Cuban populace.
“Equally, we advocate for eradicating sanctions on Venezuela, particularly people who hinder the Venezuelan authorities’s entry to the united statesU.S. monetary system and block oil imports from the state-owned P.D.V.S.A.
“It can’t be ignored that these sanctions amplify the humanitarian disaster in Venezuela, contributing to many refugees into neighboring international locations. The sanctions additionally hurt harmless Caribbean international locations that hitherto benefitted from the Petro Caribe initiative, which served as an power worth stabilization mechanism for these international locations.”
Browne stated that as members of the United Nations, “we’re all sure by its Constitution that enshrines dialogue and peaceable battle decision.
“Right now, I fervently urge each nation, to recommit to those cornerstone rules, making certain they’re revered, and adopted, because the bedrock of all worldwide relations,” he added.
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