In the wake of recurring natural disasters like storms, floods and extreme weather that are disturbing livelihood; debate has ensued on whether using the Climate Finance Fund should be an option as compensation for affected UN member states, who are party to the UN climate change agreements. Tamanda Matebule writes.
Of late; some parts across the world have been experiencing cyclones whose interval has now become more frequent and almost predictable.
In the sub-Saharan Africa, for instance, countries like Malawi have not been spared from climate-related hazards like floods, storms and extreme droughts, a phenomenon scientists attribute to climate change.
Besides eroding soil cover which has led to destructive landslides; these disasters have, according to the Census Bureau internally displaced 3.4 million people as at 2022.
Central about these disasters are being the adverse effects of climate change and environmental depletion living countries with low adaptive capacity more vulnerable to extreme food insecurity.
No wonder; in the face of such challenges, state and non-state actors have ignited the lobby for review of the mandate of the Climate Finance Fund – a loss and damage rehabilitation package established at a United Nations climate summit (COP 21), in Copenhagen Paris, in 2015, where rich nations pledged contribute $100 billion annually to less wealthy nations by 2020, to help them adapt to climate change and mitigate further rises in temperature.
The Malawi Parliament for instance; suggests, it’s high time the UN reviewed the utilization of the fund so its contributions can be used for lifesaving assistance through strengthening people’s resilience with climate adaptation measures, preparedness and disaster risk reduction.
Welani Chilenga, chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on natural resources suggests making the Climate Finance Fund a compensation fund would directly help UN member-states rebuild after being hit by natural disasters.
“Countries like Malawi and her neighboring states are facing back-to-back catastrophic disasters. The increased occurrence of these floods, droughts and cyclones of late must be a call for some intervention. Hence this proposal,” says Chilenga.
Echoing Chilenga, a local natural resources campaign group, Nature and Justice Network observes the recent climate-related disasters the Sub Saharan Africa has experienced are an illustration for the need to review the use of the Climate Finance Fund.
Wesly Chokonoka national coordinator for the network says given what’s happening; the Climate Finance Fund must begin to support countries being affected by natural disasters.
He adds: “This fund needs to move towards facilitating the management and responses to natural disasters and strengthening people’s resilience.”
For the United Nations Environment Program, Executive Director Inger Andersen; given the weight of the devastation on the vulnerable populations; she saw from floods and mudslides something needs to be done.
“What I have seen is enough for the world to step up its efforts to help developing nations, like Malawi contend with a changing climate,” says Angersen.
She observes it was unprecedented that heavy rains, strong winds, and floods would at once affect 14 districts – nearly half the country killing 1, 200, injuring over 1,300 people and left 427 missing – a catastrophe costing huge sums of money to care for those affected.
“It is unacceptable that those countries that have done the very least to impact on climate change are suffering the very most,” she said.
In a country already fragile; grass-root leaders also agree that countries on the receiving end of impacts of climate be considered with a relief package from the UN.
“The devastating winds, storms and cyclones like Cyclone Freddy are likely to continue to damage our houses, health facilities, schools, water sources, roads and crops. We have seen how hard its’ been for survivors to live on humanitarian aid, relief and government agencies.
“Moving forward it would only be sensible for the UN to support vulnerable states recovers and rebuild their nations when hit with natural disasters,” observed Traditional Authority Chikumbu of Mulanje district.
Whilst other aspirations of the fund include supporting developing countries in reducing emissions and adapting to climate change and building institutional capacity and strengthening policy environments in developing nations … months after being hit the devastating Cyclone Freddy Malawi is still on her knees struggling to rise from again.