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As the world converges in Dubai for COP28, the urgent need to massively scale up action to address the “loss and damage” from climate change becomes increasingly clear in developing countries.
The principle of “Loss and Damage” highlights the need to go beyond adaptation and mitigation and acknowledges the irreversible adverse impacts and the economic losses that are already underway as a result of years of inaction/ denial and lack of attention to climate change issues.
Climate change is now an undeniable reality, causing irreversible losses and damage to the most vulnerable communities, ecosystems, and regions around the world, particularly in Africa.
Read ALso: COP28: YWCA Advances for women Inclusion in Climate Action
Marginalized communities in Kenya are not aware of the Climate Change funds set aside to reduce the susceptibility of marginalized groups on the onset of climate crises and constrain their resilience to the impact of climate change.
Research shows communities that have contributed least to climate change are the most affected by the crisis. The communities contribute less than one per cent of emissions yet suffer due to the actions of others. The affected mustn’t be left to suffer on their own. Climate justice is essential for these communities.
An increase in adaptation and mitigation efforts is necessary, as is support for humanitarian responses to help the affected.
Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) has continued with its initiative of ensuring marginalized communities, youth, and women are included in this talk about climate at the ongoing COP28.
The NGO has been active in advocacies for climate finance and they believe the money pledge by the Northern countries at the COP will greatly help the marginalized communities in building climate resilience.
“YWCA is doing regional dialogues to engage/collect inputs from the marginalized youths, women, and indigenous communities on different Policies i.e. The Amendment of Climate Change Act 2016 and the recently launched NCAAP 3. Which touches on climate finance. We also actively engaged in the advocacy that touches on the climate finance thematic areas.” A statement by the YWCA states in part.
“Yes, the funds will greatly help the Marginalized Communities by building their resilience to climate change and supporting ways in which communities will adapt to the irreversible climate effects, i.e., supporting them to find alternative sources of livelihoods, which are currently unaffordable.” It added.
Kaltuma Rashid from Womankind, speaking during a virtual meeting by YWCA, reiterated the lack of campaigns and awareness on climate finance.
She noted that most people especially the marginalized are unaware of the climate fund mechanisms meant to cushion them against adverse effects of climate change.
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“Majority is not aware of the flloca program and such related climate change fund due to lack of campaigns and awareness to educate them on climate financing.” She said.
Activists across the country have been calling for a change in the architecture of finance.
These funds also facilitate the capacity building of these communities on climate action.
The Climate Finance and Innovations Practitioners have also reiterated that the climate finance mechanism should always be a community-driven initiative terming it as a ‘bottom-up’ approach and plan.
This alludes to the fact that the main objective of the funds was to finance local adaptive capacity and mitigation in the devolved units and provide practical ways to build long-term resilience.
Under mitigation measures, this fund will support the community to achieve the government agenda of the 15 billion trees campaign, thus reducing emissions.
President William Ruto speaking during his address at the COP28 has challenged developed countries that are also the high emitters of hazardous carbon emissions to honor climate change financing pledges to realize the industrial decarburization agenda.
He spoke this week while giving a keynote address at the ongoing COP 28 World Climate Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Ruto challenged nations (the world) to install clear and actionable roadmaps that will turn Africa into a green powerhouse.
“This is not just essential but also an important ingredient for industrial decarbonization. A unified global effort will ensure that we mobilize capital for both our development and necessary climate action.” President Ruto noted.
Climate activists at COP 28 say their celebration for the adoption of the Loss and Damage Transition Committee and the announcement by Parties of their pledges, only after the money reaches the indigenous communities represented at the COP.