COP26: FAILURE IS A DEATH SENTENCE FOR HUMANITY
A few days ago, world leaders converged in Glasgow, Scotland for the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The world leaders and other stakeholders were meeting six years after the Paris Climate Agreement where world leaders committed to climate action. Sadly, as the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres highlighted in his COP26 opening address ‘the six years since the Paris Climate Agreement have been the hottest six years on record.’ In addition, the sea-level rise is double the rate it was 30 years ago with oceans not only hotter than ever before but also getting warmer faster. The situation is so catastrophic that in the last decade nearly 4 billion people have suffered climate-related disasters. Zimbabwe has not been spared the devastation. The most disastrous and fatal of such disasters, Cyclone Idai which decimated parts of Manicaland Province, quickly comes to mind. The seriousness of the global situation has been aptly captured by the UN SG when he lamented that we are fast approaching tipping points that will trigger a global disaster of unprecedented proportions.
As the Glasgow dust begins to settle, the Citizens’ Cabinet joins the rest of the progressive world in imploring world leaders to seriously renew their Paris commitment to limiting global warming increases to 1.5 degrees celsius. We also call upon developed countries which are responsible for 80 percent of climate unfriendly emissions, to honour their commitment to provide $100 billion a year to developing countries for climate change mitigation programmes. More money should be channeled towards creating climate resilient economies and inclusive community adaptation programmes. The revelation that currently the G20 are $20 billion short of their commitment is not only unfortunate but is irresponsibility of the highest order. This is no playing matter. It is a matter of life or death. We totally agree with SG Guterres that when it comes to climate change, ‘Either we stop it – or it stops us.’ His call for a paradigm shift must be heeded by all. It is no longer business as usual. And there should be no room for political and corporate greenwashing couched in “net-zero” plans. Countries must immediately shift from 5-year reviews of climate plans and policies to, to borrow the words of Mr. Guterres, ‘Every year. Every moment.’ Such is the urgency that is required to mitigate the current climate change catastrophe stalking humanity.
Coming to the local scene, it is most disconcerting that Zimbabwe’s position on climate change has been drowned in politicking and meaningful discussions on how the country can improve its climate change policy has been overshadowed by partisan political grandstanding. Judging by what is in the public domain it would appear Glasgow 2021 was about anything else but climate change. We call upon the Government of Zimbabwe to focus its efforts more on climate change issues than on scoring cheap political and or diplomatic victories. We expect to see a more properly formulated climate change policy with a clear implementation matrix. More so, significant public resources must be channeled towards climate change mitigation, preserving our wetlands, decarbonization of the economy, and building climate resilience at community level. The national budget, which is due shortly, must adequately provide funds for these purposes. We conclude by saying, when it comes to issues of climate change, failure is not an option but rather, as UN SG Guterres correctly pointed out, it is a death sentence on the entirety of humanity with no room for appeal.