Don T Keep Changing Goalposts On Climate Change Funds Says Minister

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Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad speaking at a biodiversity event at the COP28 summit in Dubai on Wednesday. (Bernama pic)KUALA LUMPUR: Countries attending the COP28 climate change conference have been urged to stop changing the goalposts for developing countries to receive financial and technical aid.
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, the minister for natural resources, environment and climate change, said Malaysia would do much more, and be willing to be more ambitious in fighting climate change, “if we only had the support, whether financial or technical”.
“The goalposts should not keep changing,” he said at the COP28 conference in Dubai today.
It should not be the case that wealthier countries, “including those who have benefitted from exploiting the environments of other nations in the past,” are not held to the same standards or subject to the unilateral trade measures imposed on smaller nations.
He urged that the distribution of the loss and damage fund be done in as transparent a manner as possible. Billions of ringgit have been pledged to the fund, which was set up on the first day of the environmental summit.
Nik Nazmi said international financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank, Asian Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and African Development Bank Group ought to be involved.
“No single institution should have a monopoly. We hope that adjustments can be made in the spirit of common sense and fair play.”
So far, US$100 million (RM466 million) has been pledged by the United Arab Emirates and Germany with Italy and France promising US$108 million (RM504 million). The US meanwhile, historically the planet’s worst greenhouse gas emitter and the largest producer of oil and gas this year, has so far pledged just US$17.5 million (RM87 million).
Nik Nazmi said all countries must contribute to fighting climate change based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. - FMT

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