Harjeet Singh: Getting rich countries to pay up for climate change
Dec 7, 2023
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Harjeet Singh, Head of Global Political Strategy for Climate Action, discusses the creation of a Loss and Damage fund for developing nations affected by climate change. He advocates for holding top emitters accountable and emphasizes the power of civil society in advocating for climate change action. Climate activists collaborate with country coalitions to bring real change on the ground.
The establishment of a Loss and Damage fund, albeit insufficient, marks a breakthrough in compensating vulnerable countries impacted by climate change and preparing for a climate-resilient future.
The concerns regarding the Loss and Damage fund being housed at the World Bank highlight the need for developing countries to impose conditions to protect their interests and limit interference from historical exploiters, while advocating for sufficient financial pledges to meet their trillions of dollars in losses and damages.
Deep dives
The Fight for a loss and damage fund
Climate activists like Hargit Singh have long been advocating for the establishment of a loss and damage fund, which would compensate vulnerable countries for the destruction caused by climate change and help them prepare for a climate-resilient future. The fund, relying on voluntary contributions from rich nations, falls short of the financial need, but it is considered a starting point. Singh emphasizes the role of civil society in holding countries accountable and calling out their hypocrisy in funding fossil fuel expansion while projecting themselves as climate leaders.
What the Loss and Damage Fund entails
The announcement of the Loss and Damage Fund at COP 28 marks a breakthrough in the fight for compensation for countries impacted by climate change. However, concerns remain about the fund being housed at the World Bank, given its historical role in exploiting developing countries and funding fossil fuel extraction. Developing countries have imposed conditions to ensure access to the fund and limit interference from the World Bank's shareholders. Singh highlights that the fund's financial pledges are not sufficient to meet the immense needs of developing countries, whose losses and damages are in the trillions of dollars.
Addressing Climate Injustice and Responsibility
Singh emphasizes the historical responsibility of rich countries for the climate crisis, given their significant contributions to cumulative greenhouse gas emissions. He argues that the industrialization processes driven by these countries neglected the impact on nature and caused widespread pollution. Singh asserts that it is the responsibility of these rich countries to pay for the climate damages they have caused, as development gains in developing countries are being eroded by climate disasters. He calls for individuals to reduce their carbon footprint while simultaneously pressuring politicians to take action and hold fossil fuel companies accountable.
UN climate conferences don't generally start off with a bang. But COP28 in Dubai this year did just that, when on day one a Loss and Damage fund was created to support developing nations hit hardest by climate change. It's been a 30-some year fight to get here for climate activists like Harjeet Singh, but he says the new fund is not enough.
How one key climate activist says civil society can hold top emitters accountable.
Guests: Harjeet Singh, Head of Global Political Strategy for Climate Action Network International; Andrew Freedman, senior climate reporter for Axios and co-author of the daily Axios Generate newsletter
Credits: 1 big thing is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, and Jay Cowit. Music is composed by Alex Sugiura. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can send questions, comments and story ideas as a text or voice memo to Niala at 202-918-4893.