More
than two thirds (69%) of people killed in climate-related disasters in the past
50 years were living in 47 of the world's poorest nations, according to
findings released by the group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) ahead of the
UN Climate Action Summit.
The
LDCs – which make up 13% of the global population – revealed the toll of
extreme weather events like droughts, wildfires, floods and landslides between
1970 and 2019 as they launched 2050 Vision, their blueprint for a climate
resilient future.
"Over
one billion people in our countries live on the frontline of climate change
despite doing the least to cause it," says Sonam P Wangdi, Chair of the
Least Developed Countries Group. "The current system is failing. The
global response to climate change must rapidly transform to move the world onto
a 1.5°C compatible pathway."
The
LDCs will take centre stage at the Climate Action Summit. Together with other LDC
leaders, Dr. Lotay Tshering, Prime Minister, Royal Government of Bhutan, will
launch the 2050 Vision, which calls for every country to produce a national
strategy to prevent global warming beyond 1.5°C.
It
also outlines measures the LDCs will take to push for climate resilience and
net zero emissions by 2050. This involves channelling 70% of climate funding to
drive local level action, holistic climate change planning from the local to
the national level, and ensuring climate solutions are centred on gender and
social justice.
"Our
goal is a more effective, more ambitious and more equitable global response to
climate change, with no one left behind," says Mr Wangdi.
The
LDCs are asking for an initial US$450m of investment over 10 years in the LDC
Initiative for Effective Adaptation and Resilience (LIFE-AR), to help them
deliver the adaptation and resilience work outlined in their Vision. This money
will support the countries who are the first to join the drive - Bhutan,
Ethiopia, The Gambia, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The
LDCs are also championing two other long-term initiatives that will work to
support the Vision: the LDC Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Initiative
for Sustainable Development (LDC REEEI) and the LDC Universities Consortium on
Climate Change (LUCCC).
As
more than half of the people living in the LDCs currently do not have access to
electricity, LDC REEEI will focus on getting 100 percent sufficient and
affordable renewable energy to all LDC citizens by 2030 and 100 percent
electricity from renewable sources by 2050.
Through
LUCCC, 10 founding Universities will strengthen the understanding of climate
change across the group, design LDC-owned solutions and train the next
generation of leaders.
"The
least developed countries are being bold and ambitious," says Mr Wangdi.
"We have committed to doing more than our fair share in the global effort
to halt the climate crisis and address its impacts. But we cannot do it alone.
We are asking the international community to commit to supporting our priorities,
our initiatives and our Vision."
In
2020, LDCs will come forward with enhanced nationally determined
contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement, long term plans to reach net zero
emissions and climate resilience by 2050, and national adaptation plans. These
ambitious strategies and plans will also need support from the international
community
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