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Mirages in the Desert of Climate Promises and COP 29 in Azerbaijan

2024-11-18 13:39:41Pikëpamje SHKRUAR NGA ORNELA ÇUçI
Mirages in the Desert of Climate Promises and COP 29 in Azerbaijan
Illustrative photo

If this year-end 2024 were a novel, its title might be "The Year That Rocked the Planet." We saw Dubai flood. We see the Sahara desert covered with snow. And a year's worth of rain falls and floods Spain in one day. Throughout this year, fires ravaged forests, floods turned cities into lakes, and storms devastated economies, leaving millions displaced and hundreds of thousands dead.

But as governments of all countries wade through these ruins amid protests, the global response has been largely tepid, reduced to headlines and hashtags, a theater of false promises, fragmented systems and an insidious belief that ambiguities can hold back rising tides.

Last year was the hottest on record and one of the most disaster-prone. Almost 12,000 lives were lost in climate-related disasters, which is 30% more than a year ago. The material damage was monstrous. In the US alone, they reached trillions of dollars.

In Italy, a single storm caused destruction not seen in a century. Meanwhile, African nations such as Somalia and Kenya struggled with floods that displaced millions. The irony? Those least responsible for this crisis bear the heaviest burden of its consequences. According to the World Meteorological Organization, 90% of deaths and 60% of economic losses from climate shocks occur in developing countries.

These statistics are not just numbers, but also an indictment, with which all those who continue to remain loyal to a system that still prioritizes mitigation projects, such as solar panels and electric cars, while leaving them without funded adaptation efforts.

The broken promise of climate finance

The global commitment to climate finance - $100 billion a year by 2020 - has been a colossal failure. In 2021, only $89.6 billion was mobilized, and only 28% of that was allocated to climate change adaptation. Compared to the 212 billion dollars needed annually by developing countries, until 2030, the above figures are quite insufficient.

Africa, the continent most devastated by climate change, received only 20% of adaptation funds, while East Asia and the Pacific received 45% of those funds. Even more ridiculous is the percentage received by the Balkans, which at the same time is the most vulnerable region of Europe. Less than 1%.

Why is climate adaptation overlooked?

Perhaps this is because the adaptation lacks the magic of mediating the actions taken to mitigate these effects. You might not create hashtags if you prevent a flood, but you sure look like a hero if you repair the damage in the run-up to an election. This applies to any government, in any developing country. Instead, it's about building sea walls, fixing drainage systems, and planting climate-resilient crops—practical, unglamorous, and absolutely essential. Building dam infrastructure or strengthening agricultural systems doesn't make front-page headlines, but saves lives.

Long road to success

Addressing the adaptation crisis requires a fundamental shift in the way countries approach climate finance, making it more efficient, equitable and impactful. A key step is to consolidate fragmented adaptation funds into a unified entity, supported by regional hubs, to simplify access and reduce bureaucratic hurdles. As you analyze global environmental funds today, you see how much funding is spent administratively, without producing any tangible success. Therefore, American President Donald Trump is not completely wrong in what he says, something that Dr. Adhamli's approach is.

In this context, the engagement of the private sector is extremely important. At the same time, financial incentives such as subsidies, tax breaks and guarantees can attract private investment in adaptation projects, leveraging their innovation and resources for wider impact. Regions such as Africa, which bear the brunt of climate impacts, should be prioritized over wealthier nations with stronger lobbying power. The Balkans will also have to wake up, search, work and raise capacities that can do all this. He will have to do this, willingly or unwillingly.

It is also very important to have clear metrics for measuring the success of adaptation projects. Without standardized data, progress remains speculative and the world cannot afford uncertainty in the face of this urgent crisis.

Climate adaptation is justice

Basically, adaptation is the nature of man and of the whole human society even. But, beyond that, adapting to the climate comes to us as a need and as a necessity, even. This is especially true of nations and corporations that have benefited from unchecked industrialization. Their obligation to advance climate adaptation is even greater because their burden has been borne by others.

Their efforts in this direction, whatever they may be, should not be seen as charity, but as justice, albeit delayed. And as such with significant consequences. For this reason, it is important to note that, if adaptation projects continue to be underfunded, the cost will not only be financial, but will be measured in lives lost, communities displaced and futures destroyed.

All of these environmental disasters that occur every year are the planet's call to action. The time is now. Tomorrow may be too late.


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