Samia calls for expedited global climate response

Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has emphasised the pressing need for concrete climate action, as Tanzania is losing two to three percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to climate change.

Speaking at the High-Level Segment for Heads of State during the United Nations Climate Summit (COP28) in Dubai, the President has called upon the international community to match their intentions with swift and meaningful actions.

President Hassan began by acknowledging the commitment made in Copenhagen to allocate $100 billion annually for climate action; however, she stressed that the amount, though substantial, falls far short of what is required to address the escalating crisis. “Putting in place the global goal of an adaptation framework is a matter of urgency and not a choice. We must match our intent with our actions, and we must act now,” she said while airing concerns about the current rate of global warming and the urgency to keep the temperature below 1.5 Celsius as agreed during the Paris Agreement.

“The decision is therefore ours: adhere to science or face the consequences,” she said.

Despite Tanzania’s relatively low emission contribution, President Hassan highlighted the country’s commitment to climate action at COP28 this year, including mobilising support for the increased use of clean and affordable cooking fuels and technologies across Africa, with a particular emphasis on empowering women.

President Hassan also applauded the activation of the loss and damage fund, emphasising the importance of making the funding accessible, predictable, and transparent for developing countries.

During the first day of the COP28 conference, the loss and damage fund was activated with nearly $400 million in pledges.

The Fund was first agreed upon during COP27, held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, and aims to assist developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in responding to economic and non-economic loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, including extreme weather events and slow-onset events.

According to the official COP28 statement, during the first day of the conference on November 30, 2023, the host, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), announced its commitment of $100 million to the Fund, with another notable commitment including Germany, which committed $100 million. The United Kingdom committed £40 million for the Fund and £20 million for other arrangements; Japan contributed $10 million; and the United States committed $17.5 million. Reports also reveal that the European Union (EU) also plans to contribute $145 million on top of Germany’s contribution on behalf of the 27-member bloc.

In his official statement, COP28 President Dr Sultan Al Jaber said, “The speed at which the world came together to get this fund operationalized within one year since parties agreed to it in Sharm El Sheikh is unprecedented.”

“This fund will support billions of people, lives, and livelihoods that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change,” he said.UN secretary general, Mr AntonioGutterez remarked that the world is far from reaching its climate targets and goals of the Paris Agreement.

“Global heating is busting budgets, ballooning food prices, upending energy markets, and feeding a cost-of-living crisis. Climate action can flip the switch,” he said.

The head of the UN said the success of this conference depends on the Global Stocktake prescribing a credible cure in three areas first being drastically cutting emissions, the transition to renewables, and climate justice.