By Jeff Kapembwa
In less than two weeks, precisely, November 11, the Conference of Parties (COP), 30th edition will kick off in Belem, Brazil’ Amazon city, and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and other campaigners are challenging world leaders to adapt to insulate against consequences of climate change consequences.
President Lula, a key campaigner against the climatic effect on the planet-devastating environment, humanity and food systems warns against laxity in formulating National Action Plans (NAP) to fight the crisis.
Without such actions, it is impossible to preserve nature without stop gap measures that seek to also take care of the people, who are vulnerable to the crisis.
In his recent address during the Special High-Level Event on Climate Action in New York notes President Lula reminded the global leaders about Brazil’s relentless preparations to host the COP 30.
Less than 14-days from now, presenting Nationally Determined Contributions at the forthcoming global climate event is not optional or risk plunging the planet into darkness.
“In a world where serious violations have become commonplace, failing to present a Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) may seem a lesser evil — but without the full set of NDCs, the planet is navigating in the dark.”
He disclosed that, being wary of the climate consequences, Brazil has taken the first steps and became the second country to present its NDCs with help from the European Union-a determining factor for its preparedness as espoused under the Paris Agreement.
He challenges countries and leaders headed for Belem to emulate and that no one is safe from the effects of climate change.
“It is time to ask whether the world will arrive in Belém having done its homework.” He said adding: “The Paris Agreement gave countries the freedom to set emission reduction targets that are consistent with their realities and capacities.”
The C0P 30 being hosted in the Amazon City-Belem, President Lula, noted is to warn affected countries to avoid living in denial about climate but it is also multilateral. Arguably, further delays will not militate the effects and no border will contain droughts or storms.
The NDCs, he says, are vital as they are the map of the path that will guide each country in the change, which are also not mere numbers or percentages but an opportunity to rethink models and reorient policies and investments towards a new economic paradigm which all countries must take seriously and adapt.
“For this to occur on a global scale, rich nations must anticipate their climate neutrality goals, and expand access to resources and technologies to developing countries.”
Brazil, he says is resolved to reduce emissions of all greenhouse gases between 59% and 67%, covering all sectors of the economy. Its goal of zeroing deforestation by 2030, chiefly the Amazon, is real.
Brazil wants to show that it is impossible to preserve nature without taking care of people. NDCs, for all countries, are no exception and those who have not devised any, should do so as it makes one of the key discussing points at the COP 30 running from 11-21 November.
Delegates attending the COP 30-dubbed: “COP of truth” should endeavor to emulate Brazil’s preparedness and make the Amazon the stage of a decisive moment in the history of multilateralism or force society to stop trusting leaders for indecision.
“This COP will have to say whether or not we believe in what science is showing us. Whether or not we, leaders and heads of state, trust science, we will have to make a decision.
“If we do not make a decision, society will stop believing in its leaders — and, instead of us strengthening the fight against global warming, we will help discredit politics, multilateralism and democracy.”
And André Aranha Correa do Lago, the COP 30 President Designate, calls for concerted actions from affected countries to adapt without further delay noting that climate change is becoming a poverty multiplier, dismantling livelihoods, displacing workers and deepening hunger.
“Adaptation is as essential to safeguarding economies as it is to protecting lives. Climate-related disasters already cost Africa between 2 and 5% of GDP each year.
Adaptation ambition and action will be key to advancing in Belém our three priorities: (i) strengthening multilateralism; (ii) connecting the climate regime to people’s daily lives; and (iii) accelerating climate implementation.
Across Small Island Developing States (SIDS), a single hurricane can erase years of progress, as shown by the devastation caused by Cyclone Freddy in parts of the Indian Ocean and Africa.
In Least Developed Countries (LDCs), recurrent droughts and floods – from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa and Southeast Asia – undermine food security, strain public finances, and reverse hard-won development gains. In Latin American countries too, climate impacts have been exacerbating inequalities and increasing vulnerabilities.