Solidarity among G77 + China crucial to access more climate funds -VP Jagdeo

Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo says solidarity is needed from the Group of 77 and China if they are to help developing countries battle climate change. This is the only way that small countries who are also combating the effects of COVID-19, will get the financial support needed to tackle climate change.

VP Jagdeo made these statements in his address at the virtual Ministerial Level Meeting hosted by Guyana, in its capacity as Chair of the Group of 77 and China. 

The widespread effect of COVID-19 has side-tracked many countries from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he said. 

“One of the primary purposes of this exercise is to say notwithstanding the COVID-19 impact on our economies, we are faced with an existential threat that will not go away and if anything; it is getting worse,” the Vice President said. 

Dr. Jagdeo said he hoped the effects of the pandemic are not used to reduce finances for smaller countries, as had been done in the past with less deadly diseases. He reminded the Meeting that the G77 and China is a powerful group of countries and could move forward from a position of strength if they reach consensus. 

“If we are to go next year to COP (the UN Climate Change Conference) in Glasgow, this engagement today is to say that we have found some level of solidarity in this group. If we want to achieve higher levels of ambition and dedicated and adequate financing to … finance mitigation actions and adaptation actions; we can only do that through solidarity.”

The Vice President emphasised that finances must be given to countries with limited capabilities if they are to attain the SDGs during the pandemic. 

“We need financing at scale now, not in the future, but now and there are already pools of money where pledges have been made that we have to work as a group to unlock and we probably will need the solidarity of the Group and the bigger countries in this Group to help us to do that,” VP Jagdeo said.

The Meeting was part of a flagship event held under the theme “Maintaining a Low Carbon Development Path towards the 2030 Agenda in the Era of COVID-19.” The aim is to find ways to effectively combat the effects of climate change while also battling COVID-19.

The Group of 77 and China is a coalition of 134 developing nations set up to promote its members’ collective economic interests and create an enhanced joint negotiating capacity in the UN.