Chairperson of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Climate Group, Evans Njewa, has called for increased efforts to support member countries ahead of COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
In a statement released before the conference, Njewa stressed the urgent need for scaled-up, new, and accessible climate finance tailored to the needs of vulnerable communities through grants, not loans.
“For too long, debt burdens have crippled our economies and deepened our vulnerabilities,” said Njewa.
He pointed out that LDCs require at least US$1 trillion by 2030 to implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
“A failure to conclude COP29 without a bold new finance goal would be a tragic disservice to both the planet and vulnerable populations,” he warned.
This year, severe flooding and landslides have impacted countries such as Nepal, Chad, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh, emphasising the need for a transformative climate finance approach.
“Not billions, but trillions,” Njewa urged.
The statement also called for global commitment to collective action and for COP29 to finalise carbon market regulations that ensure environmental integrity while supporting emissions reductions.
The LDC Group represents 45 countries across Africa, the Asia-Pacific, and the Caribbean, with a combined population exceeding one billion.
By Peter Makawa in Baku, Azerbaijan.
