The UNEP Adaptation Gap report says this will happen even if global emissions are cut drastically to meet the agreed goal of limiting warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius.
The African Group of Negotiators (AGN) at the climate talks has
acknowledged the $100 billion to be mobilized by developed countries by year
2020 is a starting point to climate adaptation. Their aim, according to the
Chair, Nagmeldin
El Hassan, is to see a 1.5oC or 2oC warming limit.
Martin Kaiser, Head of Climate Politics in Greenpeace, said “if
the Paris treaty is to make a difference, countries must agree to phase out
fossil-fuel emissions to zero and lead us to a renewable energy future”.
He wants businesses causing the problem to be held
accountable and compensate the victims of their dirty actions, a position
shared by African civil society.
Christian Aid has also called for negotiators
at the ongoing UN climate summit in Lima to heed the warnings.
Christian Aid’s Senior Climate Change Advisor,
Mohamed Adow, said “this UNEP report outlines in stark detail the huge costs of
adapting to climate change being faced by poor countries around the world. Already
some developing countries are reaching the limit they can bear with their
limited resources. The poor and most vulnerable should not be left alone with
the option to simply adapt or die.”
He described as “a cruel irony” that the rich
countries whose carbon emissions helped create these climate change impacts do
not want adaption to be a central part of the Paris agreement.
“It’s important that action on emissions is
linked to action to help countries adapt. While emissions cuts remain low it is
even more vital that adaption support increases”, said Mohammed.
African
civil society, led by the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) has
stated that any climate change deal that is leading to 3oC of
warming should be resisted as it will cause untold problems of hunger, starvation, disasters, conflicts and wars in
Africa.
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