Barbados has become the incarnation of the countries of the South, hit hard by global warming caused by the countries of the North. Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley is in Paris to participate in the summit for a “new financial pact”, chaired by Emmanuel Macron.
Faced with the climate emergency, the situation is clear: we need more solidarity, international mutual aid between the countries of the North and the countries of the South. This requires real financial effort. During COP 27 in Egypt last November, the rich countries, historically responsible for global warming, ended up agreeing to create a global fund for “loss and damage” suffered by vulnerable countries.
>>> Summit for a new financial pact: Emmanuel Macron exceptional guest of franceinfo Friday at 8:30 a.m.
But the hardest part remains to be done: agreeing on the source of the money and its distribution. This is the challenge of the summit for a “new financial pact” organized on Thursday June 22 and Friday June 23 in Paris.
Mia Mottley, the voice of the countries of the South facing the climate crisis
Forty heads of state, government, climate experts, finance, NGOs and environmental activists, including Greta Thunberg, will participate in this large gathering, wanted and chaired by Emmanuel Macron. The President of the Republic prepared this summit in collaboration with Mia Mottley, the Prime Minister of Barbados, recognized for her commitment to the fight against global warming.
“What we lack today is not money, it’s political will”, said Mia Mottley at the 27th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP 27). “The countries of the North borrow at interest rates between 1 and 4%. The South, on the other hand, has interest rates of 14%. This world still looks too much like it did when it functioned like an imperialist empire”, had also denounced the Prime Minister of Barbados.
“We come to Paris today with heavy hearts but with hope.”
During the opening ceremony of the summit for “a new global financial pact”, she asked for a “absolute transformation” of the financial system and not only “a reform of our institutions”. The leader of this Caribbean island was greatly applauded after her speech.
For fairer climate action finance
Barbados, this Caribbean island of nearly 300,000 people, has a history of dealing with climate risk. “Tropical storms are getting more intense and more frequent. On the coasts, we have problems with submersion. We also have landslides, floods,” lists David Farrell, director of the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology.
The situation will not improve: “We are heading into the Caribbean, towards a climate where rainfall is less abundant and more intense when it occurs. So we are vulnerable and the way we manage these vulnerabilities as well as the types of support and technologies that we put implemented will be decisive.” Mia Mottley is fighting for real action. She pleads for a suspension of debt repayment for two years when a country is affected by a climate disaster or for a taxation of fossil fuel companies.