Baku, Azerbaijan, November 23, 2024:
Canada and the United Kingdom have come to COP29 positioning themselves as climate leaders committed to securing a good climate finance deal in Baku. Now, negotiations are going into overtime, the texts are unacceptable, and the United States is pressing for a deal that would allow the historical emitters to escape their legal responsibilities to pay up for climate finance.
It’s time for Canada and the UK to publicly call out these tactics and make it clear that they stand with those on the frontline of the climate crisis. Climate Action Network Canada (CAN-Rac) and Climate Action Network UK (CAN-UK) call on our countries to speak out and affirm that providing public climate finance is their obligation under the Paris Agreement and in the New Collective Quantified Goal, and demand for that to be made explicit in the outcome text.
International civil society has presented the United States, European Union, and other Global North countries – including Canada and the UK – with a scathing letter accusing them of attempting to “[run] away from your legal responsibilities.” It is now on Canada and the UK to make clear this is not their approach and isolate the United States, to enable a deal in Baku that holds the Global North accountable and delivers for the Global South. The UK and Canada must not stay silent and be complicit in the United States’ erosion of the foundation of international climate diplomacy and climate justice.
Caroline Brouillette, Executive Director, CAN-Rac Canada, said: “Minister Guilbeault came to COP29 explicit about his understanding of Canada’s responsibilities when it comes to climate finance. It is time for that understanding to be reflected in action that pushes back against the United States’ shameless manoeuvres and reflected into text that ensures high-quality climate finance. Canada and other wealthy Global North countries are responsible for causing the climate crisis, and they are responsible now for paying up.”
Catherine Pettengell, Executive Director, CAN-UK, said: “This new UK government set out in its election manifesto intentions to become a climate leader and to reset the UK’s relationship with Global South partners. If there was ever a moment to stand up and demonstrate that commitment, these crucial final hours at COP29 is that moment. We call on the UK to be bold in its public declaration of the obligations that we and other developed countries have to provide climate finance to developing countries and communities on the frontline.”
Read Climate Action Network International’s response to yesterday’s draft text for the New Collective Quantified Goal. See photos here from today’s civil society action in the COP29 venue.
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Canada’s farthest-reaching network of organizations working on climate and energy issues, Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat (CAN-Rac) Canada is a coalition of more than 160 organizations operating from coast to coast to coast. Our membership brings environmental groups together with trade unions, First Nations, social justice, development, health and youth organizations, faith groups and local, grassroots initiatives. Read CAN-Rac’s COP29 expectations & briefing here.
For more information or to arrange an interview with Caroline Brouillette, contact Vicky Coo, Communications Manager at comms@climateactionnetwork.ca
Climate Action Network UK (CAN-UK) is the UK node of Climate Action Network (CAN), a global network of more than 1,900 civil society organisations in over 130 countries driving collective and sustainable action to fight the climate crisis and to achieve social and racial justice. climatenetwork.org
CAN-UK brings together international development and environment organisations in the UK working on the poverty-nature-climate agenda to advocate for climate justice and sustainable development for all.
CAN-UK’s COP29 briefing is available here.
Catherine Pettengell, Executive Director of CAN-UK is in Baku at COP29 and is available for interview. To arrange an interview, contact +44(0)7967 494760 (Whatsapp)