Opinion article by H.E. Jacek Jankowski Head of European Union Delegation to Zambia and COMESA

COP26 has to be the turning point — from climate negotiations to climate solutions

The evidence is clear. In August, the world’s scientists concluded once again that immediate action is needed. Climate change is uncomfortably close to all our daily realities no matter where in the world we live.

In Paris, five years ago, the international community finally agreed to embark upon an ambitious journey: to limit global warming to between 1.5 and 2°C. While such levels of warming might seem manageable, the difference could be existential. For the human body the difference between 40 and 42°C is the difference between life and death. Containing the temperature increase means limiting climate disruption and reducing the chance of natural disasters.

Yet the news is not all grim - science also tells us that a zero-carbon society is possible – a society of new green jobs and growth that can limit warming to 1.5°C. The European Union has already shown that it is feasible to decouple growth from CO2 emissions: since 1990, our GDP has grown by over 60% while net greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by a quarter. In July, the European Commission released a legislative package to implement the European Green Deal and deliver a 55% net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 on the path to climate neutrality by 2050. This transition of how we generate and use energy, move around, build and heat houses and use the land is designed in the fairest way possible, ensuring no one is left behind.

Obviously, the European Union cannot manage alone as we only emit 8% of global CO2 emissions. We have to inspire others - even the most reluctant partners - to join the path to climate neutrality. When the EU committed to climate neutrality by 2050 two years ago, few believed Japan, USA, South Korea and even China would follow. When we launched the EU Green Deal, few imagined the EU would borrow for a green recovery to finance the most ambitious climate neutrality plan in the world. We set up the first Green Alliance for climate neutrality, starting with Japan on 27 May, and we pushed the G7 to commit to climate neutrality in June. Now we are pushing the G20 to follow suit. We will never stop pushing for progress.

We invite all partners to strengthen their climate mitigation and adaptation plans. We are ready to offer technical and financial support, and are walking the talk with our own Climate law, 2030 package and Adaptation Strategy. We are among the world’s biggest providers of climate finance, releasing EUR 22 billion (USD 26 billion) in 2019 representing more than a third of the total effort by developed countries

And we are committed to scaling up this amount further in the years to come, as can for instance be seen by European Commission President Von der Leyen’s recent announcement of an overall 4 billion top-up under the EU’s core budget over the 2021-2027 period.

But we need others to do more also to meet the commitment by developed countries to provide USD 100 billion per year for climate action in developing countries. Mobilising more private finance will also be important in this regard.

The EU has fought hard to keep the Paris Agreement alive. After the negotiating, the time for climate action is here. Each State must increase its ambition to cut global emissions, but the UNFCCC just released a disheartening report. Under current commitment, global temperature would rise by an unacceptable 2.7°C by 2100 – a gloomy outlook to say the least.

A lack of ambition means a climate tax will be levied by climate change itself, a tax that is bad for everyone, paid for with destruction, and without any upside for society. This is why we have proposed a flexible carbon border adjustment mechanism to use only if partners are not ambitious enough on climate action. Putting a price on carbon is essential, one way or another. It is a proven way to the price signal that triggers change. We want to lead by example and engage with partners, but we are prepared to take more action, if necessary.

If we close the gaps in financing and ambition, if all countries commit to doing more, then we can still keep the climate crisis under control. Based on science, realists today know the cost of inaction is immeasurable. It’s a fantasy to believe we could afford not to act.

We now need a systemic and exponential change away from fossil fuels. It is good for our health, our households, our crops, our water, our jobs and our economies. This will require the support of world leaders and pressure from citizens. Every action counts: how we vote, what we eat, how we travel. Just how damaging climate change will be is in our hands.

The EU is taking a leading role in climate action, and we want to do more with

Zambia. We are convinced that new sources of growth, jobs and benefits for the private sector in Zambia are in green businesses and circular economy. In the coming years, the EU will support green partnerships based on the principle of “building forward better”. Support to a greener, diversified and climate smart economy and growth will combine with environmentally sustainable, socially responsible and inclusive development. This will particularly target SMEs led by youth and women in agriculture, forestry, biodiversity, water and renewable energy. We can highlight what is envisaged through the following three examples:

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The EU will support initiatives to increase participation of subsistence and smallholder farmers, including women farmers and youth, in market- integrated value chains for diversified agro-food systems.

To safeguard Zambia’s rich biodiversity and increased resilience of ecosystems, we will build partnerships with communities to apply innovative, integrated and sustainable resource management practices for improved rural households’ livelihoods.

At urban and peri-urban levels, an increased use of renewable energies addressing needs of Water Utilities and lowering their dependence on ZESCO services will permit important financial savings. This will profit the maintenance and expansion of water and sanitation networks. At the same time, this will free energy resources for other beneficiaries. In rural areas, water harvesting will permit the development of micro-hydro installations for rural electrification and the expansion of irrigation schemes.

Grants that donors can bring will never be sufficient to meet the very high expectations but also challenges ahead. There is a need to mobilise private sector money to multiply the effect of the grants and get the necessary critical mass to have a real impact. Through the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), the EU has the means to leverage such private investments to support Zambia’s green economy transition.

Please feel free to challenge us and go even further than us. Climate action can take place anywhere, at any level. There is no time left for inaction - the time for practical solutions is now, from the most basic to the most innovative.