COP26 CVF Leaders’ Dialogue Statement by H.E. Prof. Fekadu Beyene, Ethiopia

Climate Vulnerable Forum Leaders’ Dialogue

Statement by H.E. Prof. Mr. Fekadu Beyene

Honorable Commissioner of the Environment, Forests and Climate Change Commission of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

 2 November 2021

Your Excellency Sheikh Hasina prime minister of Bangladesh, Your Excellency António Guterres Secretary-General of the United Nations Excellencies, and distinguished leaders who are able to join us at today’s CVF Leaders’ Dialogue held the World Leaders’ Summit at COP26 UNFCCC, warmest welcome and greetings to you all. My name is ​Fekadu Beyene, Commissioner of the Climate Change Commission of Ethiopia I am pleased to be joining you all as a Troika member of the CVF.

Today, we are all gathered as leaders most threatened by the climate emergency to articulate our global priorities, and to galvanize the programs and partnerships of the CVF with COP26 Presidency, key leaders and to promote ambition in climate action and the outcomes of the COP26 in favour of the CVF.

Ethiopia has had a turbulent few months: the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, the desert locust invasion, extreme weather events including floods, as well as tensions related to the national election along with escalating conflict. Ethiopia is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its dependency on rain-fed agriculture and natural resources, as well as its low adaptive capacity to absorb climate change-induced shocks. Even amidst this backdrop, climate change has been of critical importance to us.

Ethiopia formally submitted an update to its enhanced NDC on July 23, 2021 which includes a target to reduce our carbon emissions by almost 69% on 2010 levels by 2030 and more detail on our adaptation goals as we see adapting to climate change as just as important as climate mitigation efforts. Ethiopia is also pursuing practical action through our Green Legacy initiative to plant 20 billion seedlings in four years. This set of national climate change commitments and plans is the culmination of months of dedicated analysis and exploration of climate compatible development in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia co-hosted the CVF Africa and Middle East Regional Dialogue along with the Government of Bangladesh which identified an up-to-date understanding of the types of challenges, successes, needs, and gaps that African continent region’s most vulnerable developing nations face, resulting in a Regional Communique for Africa and Middle East. Ethiopia endorses the “Dhaka-Glasgow Declaration ” of the CVF articulating the interests, efforts, and expectations of the CVF members for COP26 and beyond following regional and global consultations among CVF members and partners involving over 60 governments.

The CVF has been very clear about what is needed: the adoption of a “Climate Emergency Pact”. We support the “Climate Emergency Pact” Call for the COP26 as called by the CVF for annual ambition raising and the Delivery of Climate Financing as called for by the V20 to restore confidence in international climate cooperation.

A $100 billion delivery plan for finance from developed nations is essential at COP as well as additional 50:50 balanced climate finance from 2020 to 2024 to fund the adaptation and mitigation. This is something we really have to highlight and push for. Major emitting countries have failed to keep their pledges on climate finance. 1.5 degrees is something we all share because of course we are going to feel even more of the brunt of climate disasters as we see warming increasing far more towards this level. And beyond this level this became a totally unacceptable scenario. We need major emitting countries to present new, more ambitious climate action and targets to keep the 1.5ºC goal of the Paris Agreement within reach.

On loss and damage, COP26 must also achieve substantial progress on financing loss and damage. We need to move to action as soon as possible as we are already experiencing so much loss and damage, and this will only be getting more challenging for us. COP26 is really an opportunity for this and we must emphasize that. Finally, we must highlight the priority to finalize robust carbon markets under Article 6 including at least 5% proceeds for the adaptation efforts of the most vulnerable.

Vulnerable countries need to be on the frontlines of the climate emergency and we need to really be strong and effective with our messaging on all our priorities, and the finalization of the Dhaka-Glasgow Declaration is a critical step and opportunity to do this.

I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage and invite other vulnerable nations from the African region threatened by the impacts of climate change to join the CVF in our common global quest against climate change and its associated vulnerabilities.

Thank you for your kind attention and I wish you all a successful CVF Leaders’ Dialogue!

COP26 CVF Leaders’ Dialogue Statement by Ethiopia