Speedier efforts to address climate change needed, Vaz tells COP23
JAMAICA HAS renewed its call for the speedy implementation of the ‘Paris Agreement’, the legally binding global climate deal which sets out an action plan to put the world on track to avoid climate change by limiting global warming to well below two degrees Celsius.
“We all agree that the Paris Agreement was a landmark event, but even more so, implementation of this agreement is now of paramount importance in building resilience through adaptation actions, which is a must for us,” Daryl Vaz, minister with responsibility for the environment, told the Conference of Parties (COP 23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Germany, last week.
ADDRESSING LOSS, DAMAGE
According to Vaz, recognising the potential for irreversible and permanent loss due to climate change, Jamaica is advocating for increased efforts to address loss and damage due to climate change.
“We are hopeful that the negotiations on the issues relating to loss and damage in developing countries from the adverse effects of climate change will be better understood and articulated, now that developed countries are themselves sharing similar experiences,” said Vaz.
He argued that it is clear that the availability of adequate financing options towards increasing mitigation and adaptation efforts is also a critical component to achieve the articulated targets, particularly for vulnerable small island developing states.
“In light of this, Jamaica supports endeavours aimed at mobilising investment and climate-resilient initiatives through a further simplification of approval procedures in the Financial Mechanism.
“Of course, as an island nation, Jamaica recognises that resilience not only lies in using the capital available to undertake physical projects and programmes, but also in the ability of our people to develop their capacities to understand and adopt new ideas and technologies,” added Vaz.
He added that it is with the sharing of innovations that states will be able to build a sustainable foundation to chart a course leading to carbon neutrality by 2050, and to achieving the aspiration of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.