As the world gears up for COP29, the upcoming UN climate change conference, civil society leaders from the Commonwealth have issued a strong call to wealthy member nations Pay your climate debt. This demand for climate reparations is central to discussions on climate justice and finance, especially for vulnerable countries in the Global South that are disproportionately affected by climate change.
The Commonwealth People’s Forum, the largest gathering of civil society within the Commonwealth, convened climate experts, negotiators, and youth leaders to discuss how the 56 member coalition can drive action towards climate justice. The forum took place ahead of next month’s COP29, which civil society has dubbed the Finance COP, as climate finance is expected to dominate the agenda.
Kumi Naidoo, a prominent climate and human rights advocate, stressed that the call for climate finance from the Global South is not a plea for charity. Rather, it is a demand for climate justice. Naidoo emphasized the imbalance between the massive investments in fossil fuels by wealthy nations and the scarcity of resources available for climate finance. He stated, Pay your climate debt We demand justice, and climate finance must go toward protecting people, not industries that harm them.
Wealthy Commonwealth nations, having contributed the most to global carbon emissions, bear a greater responsibility in providing funds to help developing countries mitigate the impacts of climate change and build resilience.
Despite the need for immediate financial support, many small and developing nations face significant barriers in accessing climate finance. Jevanic Henry, the Caribbean representative on the UN Secretary General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, highlighted the complexity of the current system. He noted that the requirements for accessing funds are often too onerous for small countries with limited administrative capacity.
Similarly, Othniel Yila, the Commonwealth National Climate Finance Adviser for Zambia, pointed to a lack of data and the lengthy processes involved in securing climate finance. This often delays the delivery of much needed funds, making it almost impossible for vulnerable nations to address climate related damages in a timely manner.
Throughout the forum, civil society advocates emphasized the need for a new climate finance framework that is fair, accessible, and based on justice. Christopher Bartlett, a climate change and resilience expert, underscored the importance of crafting a new finance goal that meets the needs of developing countries. This goal, he argued, should prioritize public sector finance and include funding for loss and damage, adaptation, and mitigation efforts.
Bartlett noted that the future of climate finance must be tailored to the realities of countries on the frontlines of climate change, where the impacts of global warming are already devastating communities and ecosystems.
For the first time, civil society organizations from all 56 Commonwealth nations have delivered a people powered report to the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM), calling for collective action in the lead up to COP29. This report highlights the need for leaders to move beyond rhetoric and build tangible agreements that will deliver climate justice to the world’s most marginalized communities.
As COP29 approaches, the call for climate reparations and justice is growing louder. Civil society leaders hope that this year’s negotiations will finally address the financial needs of vulnerable countries, ensuring that they receive the support necessary to survive and thrive in the face of the climate crisis.
In the words of Kumi Naidoo, We are not asking for charity, we are asking for justice.The time has come for wealthy nations to step up and pay their climate debt.