Latin America, one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change, will seek that the industrialized countries commit themselves in the COP24 in Poland to allocate more resources to curb this phenomenon and see with concern an eventual exit from Brazil of the Paris Agreement.
The region considers that the guidelines of the Paris Agreement, to which most Latin Americans have already adhered and contemplates the reduction of emissions and to avoid an increase in the global temperature of 2 degrees Celsius, have been insufficient due to the lack of government commitment of the most polluting countries.
To that concern was added the decision of Brazil to withdraw its offer to host the Climate Summit of 2019 (COP25), a matter that is disturbing if one takes into account that it is the country that hosts most of the Amazon.
In addition, the future president-elect, Jair Bolsonaro, has hinted at his intention to get out of the Paris Agreement, in line with the US president, Donald Trump.
Brazil had committed in Paris to achieve a reduction of 37% in its emissions of polluting gases by 2025 compared to 2005.
Mexico has shown its leadership in climate issues in recent years, being the first developing nation committed to actions to reduce the effects of global warming with the signing of various international commitments.
The coordinator of climate change of the World Fund for Nature in Mexico, Ninel Escobar, told Efe that “the incoming government is just analyzing the situation” and do not believe “that there will be a pronouncement in that regard, at least in this COP “
Chile will share its experience in dealing with climate change and will provide details on how a specific law on the issue is being prepared.
Argentina considers “priority” to comply with the mandate of the Paris Agreement and will support “proactively” to reach a consensus and will also propose that all countries review their contributions five years after the pact enters into force in 2021.
Colombia, because of its geographical position, is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, which is why the Government will advance in COP24 on the commitments of the Paris Agreement that it ratified in July of this year.
Among the challenges that Colombia has set itself is the verification of monitoring systems to measure progress on climate change and implement a “National Climate Change Policy”.
Venezuela has remained silent about what proposals could lead to the COP24, although Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said months ago that the Paris Protocol, which the country ratified in 2017, should be implemented “fully”.
Ecuador advocates a principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, in which developed countries must lead the climate struggle and provide financing and technology to developing nations to implement mitigation and adaptation measures to climate change.
Uruguay will seek the realization of measures to strengthen the Paris agreement and facilitate its implementation, as well as seeing the fund of adaptations and “financing for the region” as a priority for the country.
One of the pillars in the region is the management of renewable energies. Costa Rica, Paraguay and Uruguay have made great advances in alternatives to the use of fossil fuels.
Costa Rica will discuss the need to move towards the decarbonisation of the economy and promote green financing.
Honduras, as “one of the most vulnerable countries in the world in the face of natural phenomena”, will demand “resources from the Green Climate Fund”.
Nicaragua maintains its position of the last 3 years of claiming compensation of 0.7% of the GDP of developed countries, due to the consequences of climate change in proportion to its responsibility.
El Salvador, which is part of the tropical region most vulnerable to the effects of climate variability, argues that environmental sustainability “is addressed as a region and not as isolated countries” and proposes that it be declared between 2020 and 2030 as the “Decade of the World Restoration “.
The confrontation to climate change is a priority for Cuba, which combats the combined effects of the rains and the extreme drought and where the sea is expected to rise by 27 centimeters by 2050, which is why, through the “Tarea Vida” plan, seeks to minimize the effects in vulnerable areas.
For Bolivia, the defense of Mother Earth, the human right of access to water and the global responsibility for the care and preservation of nature is fundamental.
The Dominican Republic is working on adopting measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change, while seeking to improve its position in the list of most vulnerable countries, because it is among the top 10 nations listed in the Global Climate Risk Index 2018 (IRC). (EFE.USA)
