Senator John Bonds Bideri has urged developing countries to use the 2020 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2020) that takes place in Rwanda in June to push developed countries to honour their climate finance commitments made as part of the Paris Agreement. Bideri made the proposal on Friday during celebrations to mark Commonwealth Day 2020 at the Parliament.
The Paris Agreement, also known as COP 21 was adopted in Paris, France during the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2015.
It states that developed countries shall provide financial resources to assist developing countries with respect to both mitigation and adaptation in continuation of their existing obligations under the Convention.
According to the agreement, the least developed countries and small island developing states may prepare and communicate strategies, plans and actions for low greenhouse gas emissions development reflecting their special circumstances.
Senator Bideri indicated that some countries are affected by climate change and the coping mechanisms that are in place require hefty sums in funding.
“The developed countries which made up what is called annex one [to the Paris Agreement] committed to provide $100 billion every year from 2016, but we are aware that this commitment is yet to be honored. How can we take advantage of this meeting to really push and ensure that those countries honour their commitments?” Bideri wondered. Read more…
