For the first time since the pandemic began, world leaders met in New York this week at the United Nations General Assembly, where many discussions took place.
Today I want to talk about what we saw at the General Assembly and at Climate Week, a series of parallel events taking place in the city.
In addition to the war in Ukraine and the food shortages it helped unleash, global warming was on the agenda.
As diplomats, heads of state and activists discussed the challenges of coping with extreme weather caused by global warming, clear fault lines emerged. It was about what developing countries need as they are experiencing the effects of climate change, and many of the richer countries are producing emissions that contribute to global warming.
That gap was highlighted at Tuesday’s climate-forward event.
The forum began with former Vice President Al Gore calling World Bank President David Malpass a “climate denier.” At another public session on climate finance later in the day, colleague David Geleth asked Malpass if he accepted the scientific consensus that fossil fuel use is heating the planet to dangerous levels. I got
After three presses, Malpass did not answer the question. “I’m not a scientist,” he said
It caused a global uproar, including calls for his resignation.
As I wrote in this summer’s newsletter, the World Bank has the strength and resources to play a vital role in helping developing countries suffering from floods, heat waves, droughts and other effects of climate change. . But this week’s episode put a spotlight on a long-running debate about whether bank leaders elected by wealthy nations are serious about the job.
By Thursday morning, Malpass had changed his message. In an interview with CNN International, he said he acknowledged that human activity is warming the planet. But calls for his dismissal continue.
Another example of global divisions was seen at the Climate Week event, where my colleague Hiroko Tabuchi spoke with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.
He criticized wealthy countries for not keeping their promises. Supporting developing countries with $100 billion annually He said climate change projects need it, even if it’s clear they need trillions of dollars.
Madagascar President Andriy Nirina Rajoelina said he had never seen a dime from the Green Climate Fund even though his island nation faces cyclones and floods.Climate projects from wealthy countries funds to.
Shoukry also called on wealthy countries to pay “loss and damage” reparations to developing countries suffering the worst effects of the climate crisis. Developing countries contribute little to climate change, but he is one of the most vulnerable to its impacts. “World, show me the beef!” he said.
The comments were particularly important as Egypt will host the next global climate summit, COP27, in November and Shukry will lead the talks.
Developing country leaders have made suggestions about where rich countries should start. Barbados Prime Minister Mia Motley made a speech in New York on Friday morning. List over a dozen majors What a multilateral financial institution controlled by a wealthy country can take.
She called on the World Bank and other international institutions to increase risk appetite and increase lending by at least $1 trillion. And she called on the International Monetary Fund to send at least $100 billion from the global lines of credit administered by the International Monetary Fund to countries in need.
“There is a disconnect between commitment and capacity,” she said, referring to rich countries. “We are not good at saving banks, but we are not good at saving countries.”
Meanwhile, President Biden repeated a promise he made last year to provide $11 billion in climate funding each year.But Congress has so far $1 billion approved.
And Denmark promised $13 million for climate change ‘loss and damage’ to African countries. That amount is relatively small, but the precedent could be significant.
COP26 in Glasgow last year, rich country stop seeking reparationsbut it was clear to the General Assembly that this year’s meeting in Egypt would make it difficult to ignore the issue.
The tone is set for COP27. Developing countries are expected to increase pressure on rich countries for reparations and a more inclusive global financial system.
“A just transition means leaving no one and no country behind. Polluters have to pay,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his address to the UN General Assembly.
Important news from The Times
Impact of volcanoes on climate: An undersea eruption near Tonga that rocked the world in January may have also caused a short-term spike in global warming.
Bipartisan success: For the first time in 30 years, the US Senate has approved a climate treaty. Lawmakers voted to join a deal to phase out categories of global warming chemicals.
Norway’s ‘net zero’ target: A $1.2 trillion fund that invests the nation’s oil revenues said it would decarbonize its assets by 2050.
More Lithium: A mine in Quebec could help make electric vehicles more affordable. increase.
Manchin pipeline: West Virginia senators were promised special consideration for planned gas lines when supporting climate change legislation. Some lawmakers are now tight-lipped.
Before You Go: Tasty Climate Action
More than a third of the food we produce is thrown away, often in landfills as a source of global warming methane. But now apps are prevalent that connect customers to restaurants, pastry shops and leftover supermarkets. They avoid waste. And there are some great bargains.