By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
In the lead-up to COP30, minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Dr Dion George, has called for urgent reforms to the international financial system.
George made these remarks at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP30 Leader’s Summit, taking place in Belém, Brazil, as part of the 30th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP).
The conference set for Nov. 10-21, comes amid record heat waves, stalled emission cuts and geopolitical rifts that threaten to derail climate diplomacy.
This year’s summit, marking 10 years since the Paris Agreement, could determine whether the world still has a chance to limit warming to 1.5C (2.7F) above pre-industrial levels.
The summit is expected to focus on three core issues: adaptation, new climate pledges and finance.
George said, the Baku to Belém Roadmap must advance 1.3 trillion dollars in grants, concessional finance and fiscal space measures.
The roadmap aims at scaling up climate finance to developing country to support low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development pathways.
“Climate change is the defining crisis of our time. No nation can face it alone. This is a time that demands courage, solidarity and multilateralism in action. World leaders have a moral duty to close the gap between ambition and finance in the fight against climate change.
“South Africa further, reiterates that climate change response measures by developed countries should not impact developing countries’ industrial, trade and socio-economic development goals, in line with international law,” the Minister said.
He emphasised that the unilateral climate response measures should not have spill-over and negative cross-border impacts on developing countries.
“Our firm view is that the unilateral trade measures which aim to achieve unbalanced climate objectives outside of the framework of the multilateral process, or unfairly restrict global trade in green technology, will only serve to hinder our ability to achieve a just transition, and slow the global effort to address climate change,” the Minister said.
Meanwhile the US will not send a high-level delegation to COP30, according to the White House, following President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement earlier this year.
Since taking office, Trump has slashed funding for vulnerable nations, cut environmental budgets and expanded domestic oil and gas production.
With 2025 marking a decade since the Paris Agreement, COP30 will test global progress toward phasing out fossil fuels – the main driver of climate change.