Protesters Demand Wealthy NationsPay Fair Share in Climate Finance amidCOP29

This Thursday morning, some fifty protesters gathered at the COP29 venue’s gate, calling onrich countries to fulfill their financial pledges to support climate change adaptation and mitigationin the Global South.Activists stress the need for fair and decent climate funding that addresses historical emissionsand prevents developing countries debt from growing as COP29 discussions continue.The protesters say that wealthy nations who have historically contributed the majority ofgreenhouse gas (GHG) emissions should do more than just provide loans or privateinvestments in the name of climate financing.Protesters insist that “loss and damages” financing be the main focus of the COP29negotiations in order to assist nations who lack the means to prepare for or recover from climatecalamities.Although the creation of a Loss and Damage fund last year was a big step in the right direction,only about USD 700 million has been committed which is significantly less than the predictedUSD 580 billion that will be required by 2033.COP29 activists have highlighted the concepts of “climate colonialism” and “climate apartheid.”The term “climate colonialism” describes how rich countries utilize their resources to enactclimate solutions overseas frequently by putting financial gain ahead of the welfare of localpopulations.Historical injustices are made worse when indigenous populations in the Global South relocatein the pursuit of forestry or renewable energy projects by the Global North.Climate apartheid is a prime example of how wealth inequality affects climate adaptationcapacity.While poor countries suffer the most from the climate problem and have fewer resources torepair and safeguard their populations, resource-rich nations are better able to adapt to climatechallenges.

In the Global South, this inequality causes poverty, displacement and infrastructure losses thatare becoming more common and severe.Advocates for climate justice suggest that the voices of indigenous peoples, frontlineenvironmental defenders and members of the Global South should all be included in anysolution to the climate issue.They argue that despite having made the smallest contributions to GHG emissions, thesegroups hold significant knowledge for climate adaptation.Protest, COP29,Climate Finance, Climate Change, GHG Emissions, Global South, ClimateColonialism, Climate Apartheid.