Loss and damage are top priorities defined during UN climate talks at the African summit, where they want to be able to show more solidarity with the most vulnerable, particularly African countries, Jennifer Morgan, Germany's first special climate envoy, told Anadolu Agency at the summit coastal location of Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, running Nov. 6 to 18, Morgan stressed that loss and damage are focal points at the 'African COP.'
'We hear about climate finance and adaptation. Big focus is on loss and damage, which is the top priority for the COP27 presidency and the African group,' she said.
On behalf of her country, she said that Germany is very open to showing more solidarity with the most vulnerable countries, certainly African countries.
For the first time, loss and damage, meaning losses of vulnerable countries due to the devastating effects of climate change which must be funded by developed countries with a long history of accelerating climate change, have been included in the COP as an agenda item following 48 hours of continuous informal consultations.
Hit by devastating floods, Pakistan has become the latest and clearest example of the climate loss and damage, suffering from over $30 billion in costs.
A recent report reveals that developing countries will need about $2 trillion per year to avoid fossil fuels and fight against climate change-related extreme weather events.
However, given that the so-called $100 billion climate finance target is not being met, it remains unclear whether the parties will be able to develop a solid roadmap for funding losses and damage and deliver on their commitments.
In 2009, developed countries committed to a goal of jointly mobilizing $100 billion a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation.
However, the target has now been revised to meet the $100 billion goal by next year.
According to an analysis by Carbon Brief, the US is falling short by $32 billion on its share of the $100 billion climate finance pledge.
'Germany is very committed on climate finance targets. We have committed to a rise from €4 billion to €6 billion by 2025. Actually, we are involved in doing an updated report on this delivery plan of $100 billion,' Morgan said.
Morgan confirmed that meeting this goal is a top priority, and Germany is doing its part.
By Nuran Erkul Kaya in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
Anadolu Agency
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