29 November 2010 | Luca Del Buono

 

A report released by international agency Oxfam states that UN climate change negotiations need more urgency to slow down the rate of climate change that has effected a year of weather-related disasters, record temperatures, flooding and rising sea levels.

The Oxfam report says that 21,000 people died due to weather related disasters in the first nine months of 2010.
The report was issued for the opening of the UN's 16th session of the Conference of Parties (COP16) held in Cancun, Mexico from November 29 – December 10.

The Oxfam report entitled: "Now More Than Ever: Climate talks that work for those who need them most", says that the number of people who died in 2010 due to climate change related disasters, is more than twice the number for the whole of 2009. This year is on course to experience more extreme weather events than the last ten-year average. Several countries have also broken heat records, with Pakistan logging 53.7°C – the highest ever in Asia.

The three most vulnerable areas – least developing countries, Africa and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) – are likely to be at an even greater risk. The pacific region is becoming increasingly vulnerable due to climate change as saltwater seeps into drinking water supplies and poisons food crops. King tides and storm surges are washing away coastlines, and in some cases people are already migrating. To help combat these problems, and to help these most vulnerable regions and the poorest people, a fund needs to be put into place.

The reports author, Tim Gore of Oxfam, said: "This year has seen massive suffering and loss due to extreme weather disasters. This is likely to get worse as climate change tightens its grip. The human impacts of climate change in 2010 send a powerful reminder why progress in Cancun is more urgent than ever."

The report carries on saying that although climate change cannot be held accountable for specific weather-related disasters, climate models indicate that the weather extremes that we experienced this year, are likely to get worse. Dr Peter Stott, head of climate monitoring at the UK Met Office, has said, the odds of extreme weather events are "rapidly shortening, and could be considered the norm by the middle of this century".

The Pakistan floods affected more than 20 million people, submerging about a fifth of the country (a space larger than the UK), claiming 2,000 lives and causing $9.7bn in damage. Summer temperatures in Russia exceeded the long-term average by 7.8°C, doubling the daily death rate in Moscow to 700 and causing fires that destroyed 26 per cent of the country's wheat crop. Russia banned grain exports as a result and soon after world grain prices increased, affecting poor people particularly, declared the report.

Oxfam plans to help combat climate change with their new campaign, the Climate Fund. In Cancun Oxfam is calling on rich and developed countries to establish a fair climate fund so that money can get to those who need it most and can use it best. Oxfam believes that the fund should prioritise women because they are vital in helping communities to adapt successfully to climate impacts.

Governments around the world must help to deliver this fund and agree with other rich countries on new ways to raise the billions of dollars needed, such as putting fair levies on unregulated international aviation and shipping emissions and agreeing a Robin Hood Tax on banks. The sooner the money is delivered, the cheaper it will be to tackle climate change. Estimates suggest that every dollar spent on adaptation could save $60 in damages.

Gore said: "Now is not the time to walk away from the UN. It is the only forum where the world can decide on an effective global response to an unfolding global crisis. The UN process has helped to generate international pressure in the past few years. This has pushed countries to initiate their own domestic policy, set targets they otherwise would not have done, and start to address the adaptation needs of poor and vulnerable communities.

"Cancun will not deliver everything that a global response to climate change should be. But it can deliver outcomes that will benefit poor people. One of the most important achievements would be a fair climate fund because this would also help to re-build trust and put the talks back on track."

The current emissions path is heading for a global temperature rise of over 3°C by the 2060s, which would create massive damage and suffering, especially in developing countries. Parties should agree to increase their pledges enough so that global warming is kept below 1.5°C.

It is hoped that informal pledges will be made at Cancun clearing the path toward a comprehensive, fair and legally binding formal global deal by 2011's UN climate change talks in South Africa.


Author: Charity Knight | Climate Action

Image: Giro555 | flickr

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