By Adjunct Prof Bruce Campbel. This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and non-profit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. The time has come for Canada and other rich nations to pony-up and pay for the devastation they have caused countries in the Global South. That means, for a start, providing far greater climate adaptation financing to low-income countries and plugging the holes that siphon their limited fiscal resources to tax havens.
They are experienced and highly respected individuals with solid reputations as mediators. Furthermore, its failure to meet its climate finance commitments to developing countries will not be viewed favourably as Ambassador Rae attempts to negotiate a meaningful international climate agreement. The UN says more than financial firms are signed onto the alliance.
Their pledge will undoubtedly be met with allegations that this was merely a public relations exercise. Canada is, historically, the 10th largest carbon emitter and the worst contributor to carbon emissions on a per-capita basis.
The federal government has committed to reducing carbon emissions to 45 per cent below levels by However, it has not committed to end fossil fuel company subsidies or provide an end-date for fossil fuel production, despite the urging of the UN secretary general to hold the line. Low-income countries are tiny emitters of greenhouse gases, least responsible for climate change, yet bearing its worst consequences.
In the past 15 years, 90 per cent of deaths from heat wave-related disasters have occurred in low- and middle-income countries. The UN refugee agency estimates that For these countries, adaptation, not mitigation, is the overriding priority. They have yet to meet this target. Canada has contributed less than 20 per cent of its fair share.
