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Small island nations bearing the brunt of climate change have asked Big Oil to pay for mounting damage from ocean storms and rising sea levels, Antigua’s prime minister told delegates at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt today. Gaston Brown’s comments kicked off the second day of speeches by heads of state and government at the two-week conference in the seaside resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. “The oil and gas industry continues to earn nearly US$3 billion in profits every day,” said Brown, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States. “It is time these companies were forced to pay a global carbon tax on their profits as a source of funding for losses and damages. Unnecessary fossil fuel producers have benefited from extortionate profits at the expense of human civilization. While they win, the planet burns.” The Polynesian island nation of Tuvalu has joined Vanuatu in calling for an international treaty to phase out the use of fossil fuels.
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Austria pledges $50 million for climate ‘losses and damages’
Austria has pledged to give $50 million over the next four years to developing countries facing unavoidable damages and losses caused by climate change, the climate ministry said. A small group of European nations has agreed to hold its first formal talks on loss and damage – short for the poorest countries facing unavoidable damage from floods, droughts and rising sea levels. Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Scotland have also pledged small amounts of damage and loss funding, breaking ranks with other wealthy nations that resist such payments for fear of spiraling liabilities for their huge contribution to causing climate change. Funds could support the Santiago Network, a UN program that provides technical support to countries facing damage from climate-induced natural disasters and a program that provides early warning systems to countries prone to extreme weather events . “The most vulnerable countries in the Global South are suffering particularly badly from the consequences of the climate crisis and rightly require more support from industrialized countries,” said Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler. He said Austria would also add another 10 million euros to this year’s climate finance budget. “Austria is taking responsibility,” Ms Gewessler said. Aisha Rimi November 8, 2022 12:34 p.m 1667909787
The President of Zimbabwe witnesses the signing of the Skypower Global Master Agreement
The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Dambunjo Mnangagwa, has just witnessed the signing of the Annex to the Skypower Global Master Agreement at the Zimbabwe Pavilion in Sharm el-Sheikh, Herald Zimbabwe reports. The Skypower deal will create a 500 megawatt solar plant in the country. Maryam Zakir-Hussain November 8, 2022 12:16 p.m 1667908875
Germany’s climate envoy says talks start ‘fairly well’ after avoiding agenda battle
Germany’s climate envoy Jennifer Morgan says the talks in Egypt “got off to a good start” after a potential row over the agenda was avoided when the countries agreed to formally discuss financial support for poor nations for the loss and damage exist due to global warming. Morgan said on Tuesday she hoped there would be a “substantial outcome” on the issue in two weeks of talks, with countries setting more ambitious targets to cut emissions and agreeing ways to ensure money flows to fight of global warming is in line with the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement. “The most vulnerable families (need) to know that we stand side by side with them and that there will only be more support there for them when these damages occur,” he told The Associated Press. “What exactly will it look like, that’s the deal here.” Asked about the potential impact of the US midterm elections on the talks, Morgan said individual votes “can’t change the fact that we’re in a climate emergency.” The Biden administration’s recent climate law had given the United States “a high level of prestige” internationally, he said. Maryam Zakir-Hussain November 8, 2022 12:01 p.m 1667907298
Tuvalu joins Vanuatu in calling for fossil fuel phase-out treaty
The Polynesian island nation of Tuvalu has joined Vanuatu in calling for an international treaty to phase out the use of fossil fuels. “Warming seas are beginning to swallow our lands – inch by inch,” Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Kauzea Nathano said in a call to the UN summit. “But the world’s addiction to oil, gas and coal cannot sink our dreams beneath the waves.” Tuvalu is the first nation at Cop27 and only the second country in the world to call for what is officially known as a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty. This follows Vanuatu, the Pacific island nation, calling for a treaty at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September. Our climate correspondent Saphora Smith in Sharm el-Sheikh reports: Maryam Zakir-Hussain November 8, 2022 11:34 am 1667906995
Africa has the ‘greatest potential to free the world from carbon’, says Ghana’s president
Speaking at Cop27 in Egypt, Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo said: “With its vast land, Africa has the greatest potential to help decarbonize the world by absorbing carbon dioxide through regenerative agriculture that requires less fertilizers and reforestation with strong biodiversity. content. “My government is proud to announce that Ghana will embark on projects in these sectors, which will simultaneously address global and domestic climate change and social issues by providing people with decent and sustainable jobs. “I am also proud to announce that Ghana has launched the Energy Transition Framework and is co-chairing the Forest and Climate Leaders Partnership with the United States.” Maryam Zakir-Hussain November 8, 2022 11:29 am 1667906127
Israel and Jordan move forward on water-for-energy deal
Israel and Jordan signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Tuesday to move forward with a water-for-energy deal after an initial review of the project proved it was feasible. The idea, first announced a year ago, is for Jordan to build 600 megawatts of solar generation capacity to be exported to Israel. In return, Israel would provide 200 million cubic meters of desalinated water to water-strapped Jordan. Jordan and Israel sign MoU for a water-for-energy deal (Getty Images/iStockphoto) The MoU was signed at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt at an event hosted by the United Arab Emirates, which in 2020 became the first Gulf state to normalize relations with Israel and has been a partner in the project. The Middle East is particularly vulnerable to climate change and this will be the first such collaboration between the countries. Maryam Zakir-Hussain November 8, 2022 11:15 am 1667905227
Affirm ‘proof of life’ family urges UK government as Egyptian Briton enters second day of water strike
The family of British Egyptian prisoner Alaa Abd El-Fatteh have urged Rishi Sunak not to return from Cop27 without a British official providing “proof of life”, as the activist enters the second day of his life-threatening water strike. Activist Ahdaf Soueif’s aunt said the family feared the British government would be “lured” out of Egypt after it was confirmed Rishi Sunak had raised the case with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The family has mainly called for Mr El-Fatteh’s release, but has also asked that he be allowed consular visits while in prison, writes Thomas Kingsley. Maryam Zakir-Hussain November 8, 2022 11:00 am 1667904327
In pictures: Second day of Cop27 talks begins in Egypt
International leaders and special envoys speak on the second day of the climate summit in Sharm El Sheikh. US Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry speaks as he attends the opening of the US pavilion at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh (REUTERS) Michael Bloomberg, businessman and former mayor of New York City, speaks at the U.S. booth (Getty Images) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers a speech at the COP27 Climate Leaders Summit (AFP via Getty Images) Maryam Zakir-Hussain November 8, 2022 10:45 am 1667903427
COP27: Small island nations want Big Oil to pay for climate damage
Small island nations bearing the brunt of climate change want Big Oil to pay for mounting damage from ocean storms and rising sea levels, Antigua’s prime minister told delegates at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt on Tuesday. Gaston Brown’s comments kicked off the second day of speeches by heads of state and government at the two-week conference in the seaside resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. “The oil and gas industry continues to earn nearly US$3 billion in profits every day,” said Brown, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States. “It is time these companies were forced to pay a global carbon tax on their profits as a source of funding for losses and damages. Unnecessary fossil fuel producers have benefited from extortionate profits at the expense of human civilization. While they win, the planet burns.” Senegalese President Macky Sall told the conference that poor developing nations in Africa are also pushing for increased funding to adapt to worsening climate change and will resist calls for an immediate shift away from fossil fuels that could drive economic growth . “Let’s be clear, we are in favor of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But we Africans cannot allow our vital interests to be ignored,” he said. Maryam Zakir-Hussain November 8, 2022 10:30 am 1667902527
Tuesday: What will happen today at Cop27?
World leaders are set to gather for a series of closed-door meetings starting today, 8…
