By Mcloyd Chilangiza
Minister of Natural Resources Michael Usi has disclosed that Malawi will lobby for climate change funds at the 28th edition of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) taking place in United Arab Emirates from November 30 to December 12.
At CoP27, which took place in Egypt, parties announced the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund to address losses incurred due to adverse climatic conditions.
The fund was hailed as a victory for those fighting for decades for climate damages, but its operationalisation remains murky.
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Addressing the press ahead of his trip to CoP28, Usi said Malawi will also push for the operationalisation of the Paris Agreement.
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The legally binding international treaty on climate change was adopted by 196 parties at CoP21.
Its overarching goal is to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
“Malawi’s participation at CoP28 is crucial considering that the country has obligations and commitments to fulfil.
“We will advocate for financial and technological support to implement sustainable development initiatives that address both mitigation and adaptation strategies,” Usi said.
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He added that his ministry has lined up measures of providing checks and balances to delegates to enhance their participation and promote positive feedback for sustainable development.
In a separate interview, an environmental affairs expert at Catholic University, Isaac Mwalwimba, expressed optimism that the conference will help Malawi to address impacts of climate change.
“We need a lot of funds and the conference will help delegates to ask developed countries to enhance their commitments made during CoP27 towards funding developing countries to respond to climatic shocks,” Mwalwimba said.
A total of 153 delegates from the government, civil society, non-governmental organisations, the private sector, the academia and the youth are expected to attend the conference “with 100 percent sponsorship from United Nations agencies and the private sector”.
