G-20 Nations have a ‘Moral Responsibility’ to help countries on the front lines of climate emergency: Dr. Khalid Ijaz
BUENOS AIRES, Nov 03, (SABAH): As the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-27) starts in Sharm El-Sheikh from 7-18 November 2022, Pakistan’s Envoy to Argentina Dr. Muhammad Khalid Ejaz alludes to G-20 Nations’ “moral responsibility” to help countries who are on the front lines of climate emergency.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Dr. Khalid Ejaz said that Pakistan is among the top ten countries most impacted by climate change – triggering 90% of natural disasters over the past two decades. The country is on the front lines of the adverse impacts of climate change. In 2022, Pakistan has grappled with extreme heat, with 3–5-degree Celsius higher temperatures than the average. This led to melting of glaciers, cloud bursts and torrential rains, three to five times more than the thirty-year average rainfall. Resultantly, Pakistan faced floods of epic proportions, which is the most dreadful manifestation of climate-induced disasters.
He said that the widespread damages to life, livelihoods, social and physical infrastructures are colossal. Thirty-three million people are affected in Pakistan due to recent floods. Over 1,700 people, including four hundred children, have lost their lives. About 7.9 million people have been displaced due to inundation and over one million live in temporary relief camps. The floods have imperilled food security of 14.6 million people while pushing additional five percent (15.4 million) people into poverty. Over 2.11 million houses have been partially or totally damaged. Thirteen-thousand km of national highways, railway tracks and 435 bridges have been swept away by the rains & floods. There has been damage to 22,189 Public schools and educational institutions.
Dr. Khalid Ijaz said that the climate change is one of the defining issues of our times. No one is immune from its impacts and no country can address it alone. Though the scale of adverse impacts of climate change varies from region to region, the developing countries are particularly the worst affected. He said that there is an urgent need for enhanced global climate action to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change; especially the industrialised countries must fulfill their climate finance commitments. He said that consideration should be given to the establishment of a financing facility for ‘Loss and damage’ to compensate developing countries most severely impacted by climate change.
