Reaction to UN climate deal on ‘historic fund’

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Nov 21, (AP): The head of the Egyptian delegation praised the outcome of the summit and the deal on a fund for poor, vulnerable nations for the loss and damage caused by climate change.

“People thought that (a deal on a loss and damage fund) was impossible and managed to get that done,” said Wael Aboulmagd.

“It was emotional for a lot of people, this struggle, people on the front lines of the war on climate and they’re suffering most. But it was very important and it wasn’t easy. But we’re really happy that it actually happened here in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt,” he said.

New Zealand’s climate change minister called the deal on a loss and damage fund “a great result” but expressed deep concerns over the lack of consensus for stronger wording on cutting emissions.

James Shaw blamed “a group of countries” that are “fighting very hard to unwind the decisions that we made” in previous conferences on global average temperature warming limits for stalling talks.

“This has been a constant of the talks for many years, but it really came to the fore this at this COP and I’m afraid there was just a massive battle which ultimately neither side won,” he said.

Damage

Maldives’ environment minister said the agreement on creating a fund for developing nations hard hit by climate change made worse by rich countries’ emissions has created “a new compact of trust” between developed and developing nations.

But the loss and damage fund was not enough, said Aminath Shauna, who also wanted to see stronger language on slashing emissions.

“I am disheartened we did not get there. Why are we trying to address loss and damage? Because we have failed on mitigation and adaptation,” Shauna said.

“We have just 86 months to fix this. The longer we wait, the costlier it will be.”

The deal “responded to the voices of the vulnerable, the damaged and the lost of the whole world by establishing a fund for the lost and the damaged,” said Pakistan environment minister Sherry Rehman, speaking for a coalition of the world’s poorest nations.

“We have struggled for 30 years on this path. And today, in Sharm el-Sheikh, this journey has achieved its first positive milestone. The establishment of a fund is not about dispensing charity. It is clearly a down payment on the longer investment in our joint futures.”