China has called on developed countries to honor their commitments to provide financial support for climate action in developing nations, emphasizing that failing to do so undermines global efforts to combat climate change.
During a regular press conference on June 13, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded to questions regarding reports that the upcoming 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) might pressure China to contribute more to global climate financing.
“Providing financial support for climate action in developing countries is not only an unshirkable moral responsibility of developed countries but also an international law obligation that they must fulfill under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement,” Lin stated.
He highlighted that in 2009, developed nations pledged to provide \$100 billion annually to developing countries for climate funding but have repeatedly failed to deliver, accumulating a total shortfall of over \$300 billion. “This has greatly undermined mutual trust between the North and the South and global efforts to address climate change,” Lin noted.
Lin cautioned that if developed countries continue to neglect their responsibilities, it will significantly weaken the effectiveness of international cooperation in global climate governance and impede the achievement of the temperature-control targets set by the Paris Agreement.
China’s stance underscores the importance of fulfilling existing commitments to ensure equitable and effective global climate action as nations prepare for COP29.
Reference(s):
China answers claims COP29 will seek greater financing from its purse
cgtn.com
