MONROVIA: Efforts by countries of the world to repair deep bruises on nature triggering global warming and climate change have been generally ambivalent and toothless. Even in the face of colossal devastations caused by these natural disrepairs to which no country is immune, commitments by nations, mainly the so-called developed world, continue to ebb disproportionately, something Liberia’s president, George Weah, has spoken to sternly vocally at various international conferences on climate change. Once again, he has raised his voice on the matter at what is called COP28 being held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. The Analyst reports.
President George Manneh Weah has yet again hyped his advocacy for equity, transparency and inclusivity in the fight against global warming and climate change by nations of the world.
The Liberian leader noted reiterate his concerns about the fact that major greenhouse gas emitting countries needed to develop new initiatives for emission reduction, and not only fulfill – but significantly increase – the financial pledges that they have previously made for funding United Nations climate financing initiatives.
In a address at COP28 held in Dubai, UAE over the weekend, the President said care must be taken to overhaul and regulate carbon credit financing mechanisms to ensure more transparency and accountability, so that they are not used merely as an avenue for high emitters to avoid responsibility for reducing emissions.
It can be recalled that in his address two years ago at COP26 in Glasgow, the Liberian leader called global attention to the inherent imbalance in the current architecture of climate change financing, and suggested that there needs to be a fundamental shift in the way that we tackle this mismatch in climate investments.
The Liberian leader reminded global powers that vulnerable nations, such as Liberia, require more financial support to protect them from the ravages of global warming and climate change.
“Funding for adaptation and mitigation is crucial, and compensation for the loss and damage already inflicted must be an urgent consideration,” he said, adding: “Our shared commitment to the 2015 Paris Agreement demands a candid assessment of our progress.”
According to President Weah, the extraordinary climate shocks experienced this year are not only a wake-up call, but a call to action, “urging us to re-evaluate the progress we have made so far towards achieving our aspirational goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Centigrade by 2030”.
He continued: “If, after such review, we conclude that we have not done enough to meet these climate goals, then it is the responsibility of all countries present here at COP28 to adopt an imperative and more realistic agenda to implement and transform key climate-related decisions into concrete actions and credible plans; and increase the level of financial and other commitments on climate change issues, with an aim to fight back climate emergency and promote more coordinated action to combat climate change.”
“In our shared stewardship of this global village,” he said further, “let our deliberations at COP28 culminate in resolute decisions and practical initiatives. I challenge each of you to contribute to the preservation of Planet Earth, our only home, for the sake of generations yet unborn.”
He thanked the Government and People of the United Arab Emirates for hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28) here in Dubai, stating that he was grateful for the warm welcome extended to his delegation since their arrival in the beautiful city of Dubai.
“As we convene here at COP28, I stand before you in recognition of the unprecedented challenges our world faces today due to climate change,” the Liberian Chief Executive told the conference.
“In the wake of COP26 and COP27, the year 2023 has been characterized by record-breaking heat, droughts, flooding, and other disasters caused by climate change, which have occurred with increasing frequency throughout the year.”