The situation in Greece has led to water shortages, lakes without water, and the death of wild horses. Meanwhile, at the annual United Nations climate conference, Ireland's Minister for Environment, Eamon Ryan, emphasized that the Paris climate agreement of 2015 is still alive, stating that countries withdrawing will fall behind compared to those advancing towards clean energy and realizing economic benefits.
Negotiators are working hard to reach an agreement on the financing that developed countries will promise to help developing nations in their transition to clean energy and adaptation to climate change. An initial draft of a potential final agreement has been presented, but it still contains multiple options that need to be discussed to reach a consensus before the summit concludes.
David Waskow from the World Resources Institute indicated that the extensive draft reflects all available options, and negotiators need to narrow it down to key decisions to move forward in the second part of the conference. On the other hand, a climate financing request of $1.3 trillion has been made by the G77 plus China, highlighting the importance of setting a provisional target to hold developed country governments accountable.
Regarding the speeches of world leaders, the Prime Minister of Greece urged a more honest approach about the commitments needed to keep global temperatures low and address the climate crisis. Meanwhile, leaders from small island nations like Grenada and the Bahamas highlighted the urgency of climate action and the need for major emitters to take responsibility.
In Europe, recent climate disasters have revealed the devastating impact of rising temperatures. European leaders emphasized the importance of continuity, commitment, and solidarity in climate actions, as well as shared responsibility in the fight against climate change.
In general, participating countries agree on the need to act urgently and take firm steps to address the climate crisis and its increasingly evident effects worldwide. The United Nations climate conference remains a crucial platform for fostering a collective global commitment to protect the planet.
