Climate Change: cooperate or perish-by PRAMOD DE SILVA

Climate Change

Climate Change is very much in the news these days, with the COP 27 (Conference of Parties) Climate Change Conference being in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt until November 18. Even as the negotiations get under way in this famous Egyptian City, severe flooding and other freak weather events have been reported from many parts of the world, drawing attention to the urgent need to address Climate Change.

Although there are one or two COP meetings every year, the world needs to see concrete action, not just talk, to ward off the extreme effects of Climate Change. This is exactly what the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said at the conference in somewhat harsh terms: “Humanity has a choice: cooperate or perish. It is either a Climate Solidarity Pact – or a Collective Suicide Pact.”

The proposed Pact would see all countries taking extra efforts to reduce emissions, wealthier nations and international financial institutions providing assistance to emerging economies (Climate Financing), ending dependence on fossil fuels and the building of coal power plants, providing sustainable energy for all, and uniting to combine strategy and capacities for the benefit of humankind.

“The two largest economies – the United States and China – have a particular responsibility to join efforts to make this Pact a reality. This is our only hope of meeting our climate goals,” he said. Guterres said that soon the eight billionth member of the human family will be born on November 15, and that milestone (see separate column elsewhere in this newspaper) puts into perspective what COP27 is all about.

Reminding the room that the clock was ticking with the planet fast approaching tipping points that can make “climate chaos” irreversible, the UN chief said that “we are on a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator”. He added that while the war in Ukraine and other conflicts have caused so much bloodshed and violence and have had dramatic worldwide impacts, the UN cannot accept that attention is not also focused on Climate Change.

Central challenge

“It is the defining issue of our age. It is the central challenge of our century. It is unacceptable, outrageous and self-defeating to put it on the back burner,” he said. The Secretary-General explained that many of today’s conflicts are linked to “growing climate chaos”.

“The war in Ukraine has exposed the profound risks of our fossil fuel addiction. Today’s urgent crises cannot be an excuse for backsliding or greenwashing. If anything, they are a reason for greater urgency, stronger action and effective accountability,” he said. Guterres asked governments to tax the pandemic-driven windfall profits of fossil fuel companies and redirect the money to people struggling with rising food and energy prices and countries suffering loss and damage caused by the climate crisis.

Sri Lanka is a perfect example of the effects of Climate Change and also the dependence on fossil fuel. Rainfall patterns have changed over the last few years to the point where they cannot be accurately predicted, affecting power generation and agriculture. Sometimes drought last for six to eight months, devastating crops.

Then the rains come, resulting in heavy flooding and landslides. If the temperature rises by 1.5 degrees or more by the turn of the century as a result of Global Warming, many coastal cities in the country run the risk of getting inundated. The recent economic crisis also illustrated how our dependence on fossil fuels could have very adverse consequences, with cars stalled on the road and thermal power generation at a standstill.

Obviously, we have been too late to the renewable energy party and an earlier decision to reduce duties on electric cars was abruptly reversed, resulting in the recent chaos. Being an island State especially vulnerable to the effects of Climate Change, Sri Lanka should be in the forefront of efforts to address it.

It in this context that we should laud the recent proposal by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to establish a Global University for Climate Change Studies in Colombo, that will attract researchers from all over the world. This is likely to be a World First, as there is no other university dedicated to this subject, although some universities do offer related courses. An ancillary institution will be established in the Maldives, which as a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) is especially vulnerable to Climate Change.

Seat of learning

As the President has explained, This seat of learning can be a trans-disciplinary global centre for green and blue studies – for scientists, environmentalists, researchers, policymakers, development practitioners, and of course, students the world over, to interchange knowledge transcending national and disciplinary boundaries.

The envisaged Climate Change University, will offer both short-term courses and postgraduate academic awards to build capabilities on mitigating and adapting to Climate Change. The University will also expedite the skills of the new generations to deliver the political, economic, social, cultural and digital transformations required to prevent a 1.5 degree world. It will be the vehicle to enlighten climate change challenges and prospects, domestically.

The collaboration of multilateral institutions and organizations such as the Commonwealth, World Bank and the ADB among others, will be sought for the establishment of this institution of higher learning – making it a multi stakeholder partnership transcending – national boundaries.

We hope that Sri Lanka’s proposal will receive extensive support and endorsement from the international community.

As a precursor to these efforts, Sri Lanka recently established a Climate Office. It has also pledged to build no new coal power plants (the country has one existing plant), generate at least 70 percent of its electricity demand from renewable sources such as solar and wind and to phase out fossil fuel use. Sri Lanka earlier announced a 2035 deadline for the registration of new fossil fuel vehicles, but this is likely to be automatically brought forward as the Government plans to allow the import of only electric cars once car imports resume, perhaps next year. Already, eligible expatriate workers are given a permit to import an electric car valued at up to US$ 65,000.

Championed the cause

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who led the Sri Lankan delegation to Egypt for the Climate Summit, has always championed the cause of environmental conservation, long before it became de rigueur for world leaders. Since becoming the President a few months ago, he has announced the aforementioned Climate Change University and many other initiatives. He has also appointed three Climate Change advisors – one local (former MP Ruwan Wijewardene) and two foreign – Maldives Speaker Mohamed Nasheed and Norwegian diplomat Erik Solheim. This will bring an international dimension to Sri Lanka’s efforts to mitigate the effects of Climate Change and give us a bigger voice in international negotiations and forums. President’s Wickremesinghe’s speech at COP27 encapsulated many of his ideas for addressing Climate Change, noting that Sri Lanka has already commenced the process of reducing Carbon emissions by 14.5 per cent by 2030 and also Marine Spatial Planning.

Moreover, Sri Lanka is employing the National Policy for Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Mangrove Ecosystems, implementing the Commonwealth Pilot project for Climate and Ocean Risk Vulnerability and leading the Commonwealth Blue Charter Action Group on Mangrove Ecosystems and Livelihoods. According to the President, Sri Lanka will: not increase further energy capacity via coal power, phase out fossil fuel subsidies, aim for 70% of renewable energy for electricity generation by 2030 and join the recent Global Methane pledge made in Washington, DC.

The President noted that unbridled industrialization of the developed countries is the root cause of Climate Change, leaving the poor to suffer the consequences. He said that the problems facing the poor countries are augmented due to the absence of adequate funding (Climate Financing). As a result, these countries are facing a double jeopardy – struggling to develop economically while fighting to protect the living standards of their populations. For countries such as Sri Lanka which are still reeling from the effects of pandemic-induced economic problems, it will be difficult to dedicate separate resources to fight Climate Change unless external aid is provided. Therefore, President Wickremesinghe said that it is imperative that the developed countries deliver on their pledge in Glasgow – by doubling their funding to compensate the developing countries for their losses and damage.

President Wickremesinghe thus proposed that prior to the next meeting (COP28) in Dubai, likeminded nations should meet at Ministerial Level to discuss the way forward on all aspects of Climate Finance. As the President noted at COP27, the lack of capacity is the biggest obstacle to the implementation of Climate Action plans. Therefore, capacity building is vital in this regard.

Apart from the lack of capacity building, the other major obstacle is the lack of action itself. Hence the President’s assertion that the chequered implementation of previous decisions, including those of COP 26 is extremely disheartening. The ground reality is that the fossil fuel based industrialized countries of G7 and G20 who have been the main promoters of green hydrogen are now backtracking to use fossil fuel. No wonder then, that the oil giants have enjoyed record windfall profits. However, the War in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russian Energy supplies have once again shown the world the futility of trying to depend mostly on fossil power.

Despite the Ukraine War, Carbon Dioxide emissions increased by 2 billion metric tonnes – from 34.3 billion to 36.3 billion metric tonnes. In the words of the President “such double standards are unacceptable – developed nations should be giving leadership to overcome climate challenges rather than abdicating on their responsibilities”.

Climate Justice and Climate Financing are two words that are very liberally used, but it is no secret that Climate Financing has missed the target. The US$ 100 billion pledged annually, has not been available in the coffers to finance climate challenges – as many developed nations deem it fit to renege on their Climate Financing contributions.

But the lack of action on Climate can have many real world consequences. Climate Change has already resulted in mass migration of people and this can only get worse as temperatures rise. Crop failure resulting from Climate Change can affect food security. In fact, it has reached levels not experienced before. Many living both in the developed and developing world are outside the scope of three meals a day. It is estimated that between 30 to 40 million people are being driven into hunger, especially in Africa. The Ukraine War and other factors have also resulted in the rise of Cost of Living and shortages of oil and gas supplies.

Pertinent question

The President asked a very pertinent question at the COP parley – Why do developing countries need Climate Financing ? The explanation is rather simple. The unbridled industrialization of the developed economy is also the root cause of Climate Change, the consequences of which, the poor countries are forced to suffer. The developing world’s problems are augmented due to the absence of adequate funding. Adding insult to injury, damages caused by extreme weather conditions are increasing, and their impacts exceedingly costly. For example, the recent floods in Pakistan are estimated to have caused damage exceeding US$ 40 billion, which a developing country can hardly bear.

It is, therefore, imperative for both developed and developing countries to come together to resolve the problems posed by Climate Change and also to act in accordance with the Paris Accord and the subsequent decisions reached at COP meetings held around the world to halt the rise in global temperatures and ensure humankind’s very survival.