At a recent address at the International Climate Conference (COP28) in Dubai, the prime minister of Barbados advocated for stricter regulations on methane. Mia Mottley also referred to climate change as “a death sentence for many.”
She explained, “The reality is that the global methane agreement that the world needs to see has not yet come.”
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She continued, “While we are seeing countries move towards greater regulation, we need to be able to have concrete action with respect to the controlling of methane, largely because its damage in the near term is far greater than even CO2.”
Moving forward, Mottley said that oil and gas corporations have to take a more proactive stance in cutting back on emissions.
“We need strong regulation and compliance to ensure that we can minimize the extent to which that continues to lead and hurt the world in the hotter temperatures,” Mottley noted.
Mottley also expressed gratitude for the advancements made thus far, citing the loss and damage fund, but demanded more funding for it.
“We want to thank all for the progress that we’ve made so far. Whether it is loss and damage, the fund that has been created but really needs now to be properly capitalized. The recognition that loss and damage alone, however, is only a part of the equation because for every dollar that we spend before disaster, we can save $7 in damage and, indeed, in loss of lives.”
Seen as a significant first day of progress at this year’s UN climate summit, nearly all of the world’s governments finalized on Thursday the formation of a fund to assist pay countries suffering to cope with loss and damage caused by climate change.
Certain nations immediately began contributing funds, such as Germany, which contributed $100 million to the fund, matching the amount contributed by the United Arab Emirates.
Amidst the oil-rich United Arab Emirates, approximately 150 presidents, prime ministers, royals, and other prominent figures attended the annual United Nations Conference of the Parties or COP28. These leaders showcased their strategies for reducing heat-trapping emissions and primarily aimed to unite with other countries to avert the climate catastrophe that appeared to be increasingly imminent in 2023.
