Hauwa Ali
During the 28th edition of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, Nnimmo Bassey, the Executive Director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation, voiced his concerns and expectations.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, Nnimmo Bassey highlighted the historical exploitation of countries without justice for their resources. He called for greater responsibility from “big polluting” companies in providing solutions to the environmental crisis.
In contrast to previous conferences, he emphasized the necessity for developed countries to fulfill their commitments in assisting developing nations in combating climate change.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, present at the conference, underscored the crucial need for investment in Nigeria and Africa as a whole to effectively address the challenges posed by climate change. He emphasized that such investments would contribute to fostering an eco-friendly future.
Reflecting on the evolution of COPs over the years, Nnimmo Bassey expressed his disappointment with the Paris Agreement, which relies on voluntary actions by countries through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). He emphasized the inevitability of transitioning to green energy and raised concerns about the fairness of this transition, particularly for Africa.
Nnimmo Bassey criticized the lack of justice in addressing the damages caused by major polluting industries and countries. He pointed out that the Conference of Parties on climate change has not been sufficiently robust on the issue of justice, undermining the established framework of common but differentiated responsibilities.
Turning his attention to the complex issue of climate finance for developing countries, Nnimmo Bassey lamented the complications that have arisen over the years. He highlighted the unfulfilled promises of financial support from industrialized nations, with pledged amounts totaling 4 million, yet only 10% of these commitments have been realized.
On the contentious topic of fossil fuel usage as an energy source, Mr. Nnimmo addressed the reluctance of some parties to abandon it, attributing it to profit motives and a lack of accountability for the environmental damage caused by oil exploitation.
