South African official expects COP29 to prioritize climate funds for developing countries

JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) — The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP29, is expected to provide clear pathways for developing countries to access funds for loss and damage caused by climate change, a South African official said Monday.
COP29 is taking place under the theme “In Solidarity for a Green World” in Baku, Azerbaijan, from Nov. 11 to 22. South Africa’s Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) Executive Director Crispian Olver said COP29 is expected to “practically” address the operating, financing, and resourcing of the Loss and Damage Fund, established at COP28.
“It is essential that negotiators at COP29 do not fail the people that are impacted most by climate change, particularly those that do not have the means to deal with the impacts of climate change or recover from climate-related disasters that impact their lives, livelihoods, and communities,” said Olver.
The official said the PCC expects COP29 to garner pledges for the Loss and Damage Fund and build on the 700 million U.S. dollars that have already been pledged, stressing that the international ambition should remain focused on limiting global warming to a rapidly closing target of 1.5 degrees Celsius pre-industrial levels, to avoid wide-scale, frequent harm to the planet.
“COP29 comes at the end of a deadly year characterized by natural disasters and severe weather events, with significant impacts on lives and livelihoods in large parts of Africa, exacerbating existing inequalities, including poverty and unemployment and exacerbating humanitarian crises in conflict zones,” he said.
“For many citizens of the world, including the Sudanese and Palestinians that have been displaced by war, or do not have access to basic resources and services, floods, poor rainfall, and high temperatures have exacerbated already unbearable conditions,” he said.
COP29 is expected to push for more ambitious climate finance commitments, ensuring resources for developing countries to implement robust climate actions and meet critical targets, he added. ■