Cop31 host urges wealthy countries to spend ‘much more’ on climate than defence
‘The climate issue is the security issue,’ says Turkish minister at Pacific pre-Cop summit in Fiji
TL;DR
- Cop31 president-designate Murat Kurum believes wealthy countries should spend significantly more on climate action than on defense.
- Kurum stated that "the climate issue is the security issue" and it's cheaper to spend money on prevention before disasters.
- A pre-Cop meeting in Fiji highlighted the extreme vulnerability of island nations like Tuvalu to climate change impacts.
- Pacific leaders reiterated demands for countries to "keep 1.5C alive," ensure accessible climate finance for vulnerable nations, and prioritize ocean health.
- Australia's climate change minister noted that only 0.2% of global climate finance helps small island developing countries adapt.
- Kurum and Chris Bowen aim to secure support for a global goal of 35% of energy coming from electricity by 2035.
- There is ongoing debate about the urgency and specific language regarding phasing out fossil fuels, with some countries resisting direct mentions.
- Dozens of countries are discussing a path away from fossil fuels separately, with future meetings planned.