BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – According to Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, the rich countries will keep their long-standing promise to financially support poorer countries in climate protection this year. “The good news is: As it looks now, we are on the way to finally reaching the sum of 100 billion US dollars this year,” said the Green politician at the Petersberg climate dialogue on Tuesday in Berlin. Developed countries actually want to make this sum available every year.
Germany has already pledged to increase its own contribution to international climate finance to at least six billion euros, said Baerbock. However, several trillions are needed to protect the climate and adapt to increasing global warming. “Public funds alone will not be able to cover this need. That is why it is important to mobilize massive amounts of private funds.” Together with the USA, Germany is committed to reforms at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. “We want to make climate finance an integral part of the World Bank’s business model.”
Baerbock emphasized the existence-threatening effects of climate change on some countries and stated: “For all of us, this crisis is the greatest security challenge of our time.”
Representatives from more than 40 countries are coming to the German capital for the climate dialogue to prepare for the forthcoming world climate conference in Dubai. Baerbock emphasized that the meeting was not a normal conference looking for the lowest common denominator. “The Petersberg Climate Dialogue is a working conference that, above all, brings together those who really want to do something.” The goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees compared to pre-industrial times is considered increasingly unrealistic in view of previous climate protection efforts./ax/DP/jha