Climate Vulnerable Forum: Risks of Extinction to Countries

• Call for unity in line with the Jummemej Declaration
• Vulnerable countries stand with parties for strong COP24 outcome

Watch the video of the event

KATOWICE, 13 DEC 2018 – The Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) today highlighted the outcome of its recent Virtual Summit and the Jumemej Declaration which calls on COP 24 to take key decisions on ambitious at Katowice.

“We call all parties to unite against any mediocre outcome from COP24.  As poor and vulnerable countries, we have pledged to do all we can to take greater action by 2020. We did so to prevent warming from going to most dangerous levels, beyond 1.5C,” said  H.E. Hilda Heine, President of the Marshall Islands and current Chair of the CVF. “We are bearing the torch for those vulnerable to climate change. We represent a number of nations, like my own, that face extinction. Species of all kinds also face existential risk.”

“We are not prepared to die. We have no intention of becoming climate change’s first victim. We will do whatever it takes to survive,” added H.E. Mohamed Nasheed, former President of Maldives and co-founder of the CVF and current AOSIS Chair.

The CVF, a group of 48 of the most vulnerable countries in the planet, warned that amidst prolonged floods, droughts and extreme weather events that devastate lives and economies, a robust rulebook for Paris is absolutely crucial but enhanced NDCs by 2020 are critical and must be signaled at COP24.  All countries must take concrete actions to satisfy public expectations for enhanced ambition and climate action.

It called for special vigilance or “Jumemmej” given how much is at stake.

The CVF, a group of 48 of the most vulnerable countries in the planet, warned that amidst prolonged floods, droughts and extreme weather events that devastate lives and economies, a robust rulebook for Paris, whilst crucial, will be insufficient to satisfy public expectations for an enhanced ambition and climate action.

The group further said that a clear signal in Katowice would give time to engage citizens, business and investors on how to deliver climate action ahead of the 2020 deadline for updating national contributions. A COP outcome must make it clear that countries should increase their ambition together with adequate international financial support in order to put climate action on the pathways needed to keep the 1.5°C limit.

The IPCC 1.5 Special Report confirmed the far safer goal is achievable if decisive action is taken now, but that mankind only has a limited number of years to keep the 1.5 limit possible.

It cites that the outcome of the G20 shows that even during difficult geopolitical time, countries chose to act together on climate change.

The CVF said that strikes in schools around the world, activists risking arrests in the UK, USA, and Europe, as well as Yellow Vest protests are a wakeup call that climate policy must be done in ways that enhance social justice and deliver climate benefits to all.

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