The KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube has reiterated her call for adequate funding of vulnerable and developing nations to support technology and other practical solutions to address climate change.
Ms Dube-Ncube made the call when addressing various platforms at the Conference of Parties (COP 28) Climate Summit, currently under way in Dubai. The UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 28) started on November 30 and will run until December 12.
The UNFCCC COP 28 focuses on four paradigm shifts, including fast-tracking the energy transition and slashing emissions before 2030, and transforming climate finance by delivering on old promises and setting the framework for a new deal on finance. The conference also focuses on putting nature, people and livelihoods at the heart of climate action, and mobilising for the most inclusive COP ever.
The premier joined other leaders in calling for a speedy implementation of commitments made in previous climate change summits.
“We must deepen our resolve and accelerate the implementation of the resolutions and commitments that have been taken in previous conferences and engagements. Poor nations and regions are feeling the brutal effects of climate change every day, and gatherings like this must bring practical meaning to such commitments,” said Ms Dube-Ncube.
She said climate-related disasters hit people on the ground the most, with provinces and municipalities tasked to respond.
“This requires a lot of focus on inclusion and funding. In KwaZulu-Natal, we are still recovering from the devastating effects of the April 2022 floods, and this is felt at local level where people live,” she said. “It is for these reasons that we call for more funding for developing nations and inclusion of subnational and local governments in planning and implementation of agreements.”
Premier Dube-Ncube was speaking for the African continent in the climate change engagements in her capacity as the premier of KwaZulu-Natal and as co-chair of the Under2Coalition, seeking to advocate for the inclusion of local government in climate talks. The Under2Coalition is the largest network of local government striving towards reaching net zero emissions by 2050 and connecting them to potential funding streams.
The premier said she been engaging with her co-chair counterparts on various issues ranging from vertical integration between national, provincial and local governments and in particular, the state of readiness for any disasters that may hit KwaZulu-Natal, given its vulnerabilities. She also encouraged accountability and transparency for disaster relief and recovery programmes.
