Paris climate conference opens with pledge to support developing countries

The climate change conference opened yesterday in Paris with a pledge for more support to developing countries to address climate change challenges. Speaking at the opening ceremony, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres said: “We have to finalise an agreement that enables the achievement of national climate change goals, that delivers the necessary support for the developing world and that catalyzes continuously increasing ambition and action by all”. Rwanda is being represented by a delegation led by the minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo, the minister of Natural Resources, Vincent Biruta and the Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority, Dr Rose Mukankomeje. The conference, officially known as COP 21 (Conference of Parties), will end on December 12. It aims to agree on a global deal that will ensure that global warming is limited to below two degrees Celsius. Such a deal will come into force in 2020. In his address, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said, “we need an agreement that embodies solidarity with the poor and most vulnerable. It must ensure sufficient and balanced adaptation and mitigation support for developing countries”. On its part, Rwanda has pledged among others to cut carbon emissions in industry, employ efficient and zero waste technologies, promote new technologies to reduce transport emissions, increase mini-solar grid and establish an integrated multi-mode urban transport system. On his Twitter account, Minister Vincent Biruta said: “Pleased to be participating in the conference we need to reach a meaningful climate agreement”. Developed countries have pledged to support poor nations in their climate change mitigation strategies. Working with the World Bank, four European countries namely Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland have announced a USD500 million initiative that will find new ways to create incentives aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries to combat climate change. It will help developing countries implement their plans to cut emissions by working with them to create new classes of carbon assets associated with reducing greenhouse gas emission reductions. The facility will measure and pay for emission cuts in large scale programs in areas like renewable energy, transport, energy efficiency, solid waste management, and low carbon cities. “We want to help developing countries find a credible pathway toward low carbon development. This initiative is one such way because it will help countries create and pay for the next generation of carbon credits”, said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. This new initiative is planned to start operations in 2016 with an initial expected commitment of more than $250 million from contributing countries. It is expected that the new facility’s support will be provided alongside $2 billion of investment and policy-related lending by the World Bank Group and other sources. Eleven donors have also pledged close to $250 million in new money for adaptation support to the most vulnerable countries through the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

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Paris climate conference opens with pledge to support developing countries