MARRAKESH, Nov 18: Nearly 200 countries today called for “highest political commitment” to combat climate change on “urgent priority” at a UN gathering here, noting that global climate is warming at an “alarming and unprecedented” rate.
The “Marrakesh Action Proclamation”, which was agreed upon by all the parties — 196 nations and the EU bloc — taking part in the summit, was read out at the Conference of Parties (CoP) Plenary session which said it was an “urgent duty to respond” to global warming.
This can be termed as one of the main outcomes of the ongoing crucial summit on climate change.
“Our climate is warming at an alarming and unprecedented rate and we have an urgent duty to respond… We call for the highest political commitment to combat climate change, as a matter of urgent priority.
“We call for strong solidarity with those countries most vulnerable to the impact of climate change, and underscore the need to support efforts aimed to enhance their adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability,” the proclamation said.
“We, Heads of State, government, and delegations, gathered in Marrakech for the high-level segment of the 22nd Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change… Issue this proclamation to signal a shift towards a new era of implementation and action on climate and sustainable development,” the proclamation said.
Nations while welcoming the Paris Agreement, its rapid entry into force, ambitious goals, inclusive nature and its reflection of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, also affirmed their commitment for its full implementation.
India had pushed for inclusion of sustainable lifestyle with minimum carbon footprint and a clear cut mention of flow of funds in the draft of the political proclamation which was earlier made.
“We, the Developed Country Parties, reaffirm our USD 100 billion mobilisation goal,” the proclamation said.
It also called for an increase in the “volume, flow and access” to finance for climate projects, alongside improved capacity and technology, including from developed to developing countries.
Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave had during his recent statement in the high-level segment of the summit noted that access to adequate finance remains an “overriding concern” for India.
He had said that it is “critical” that developed countries provide finance and technology transfer support to developing nations. (PTI)
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