Losing trust in the Global South on climate issues has exacerbated global divisions in developed countries

The 60th Munich Security Conference (MMU) was held in the southern German city of Munich from 16 to 18 October. The Munich Security Report 2024 (the Report), released ahead of the opening of the conference, highlights the growing global risks posed by the climate crisis, which is breaking through key "lines of defense" and has increasing economic and social impacts.

A number of dignitaries and experts at the meeting pointed out that developed countries have so far failed to fulfill their obligations to take the lead in reducing emissions and have not fulfilled their commitments to provide financial and technical support to developing countries. The fact that developed countries lose track of the Global South on climate issues will inevitably exacerbate global divisions and drag down the process of global climate governance.

The global climate crisis has made the countries of the South even more vulnerable

"Almost all climate problems are caused by rich countries. In an interview with Xinhua News Agency, Graham Allison, a professor at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, pointed out that "poor countries are not only not the perpetrators of climate destruction, but are important victims of the climate crisis." ”

Many developing countries, including Bangladesh, are among the biggest victims of climate change. Many climate-vulnerable countries, particularly small island developing States and least developed countries, are already suffering the consequences of climate change beyond their capacity to adapt.

"Bangladesh ranks 7th among the world's most climate-vulnerable countries, while accounting for only 0.47% of global (greenhouse gas) emissions," Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said at the meeting. ”

Developed countries have historical, legal and moral responsibilities for climate change. Studies show that about 90% of the world's excess carbon emissions come from developed countries such as the United States. In high-income countries such as the United States and Australia, even the lowest 10 percent of individuals in the income level emit six to 15 times more than the poorest 10 percent in India, Brazil, or the ASEAN region.

Barbados Prime Minister Mottley stressed at the meeting that the world's underdeveloped countries are paying a huge price for tackling the climate crisis and are falling into a vicious cycle of being unable to repay their debts, protect nature, or adapt to climate change and reduce emissions.

The developed countries are untrustworthy in their word, undermining mutual trust between the North and the South

The current global emission reduction situation is not in line with the targets set in the Paris Agreement, and the developed countries do not fulfill their commitments and obligations. This move by the developed countries has undermined the confidence of all parties in achieving the goals and weakened mutual trust between developed and developing countries.

Hasina noted that the global climate crisis has made countries in the Global South more vulnerable, but the climate finance pledged and provided by developed countries remains woefully inadequate, with Bangladesh currently spending 75% of its funding on climate adaptation and recovery coming from domestic resources.

The UNEP's Adaptation Gap Report 2023, released last November, pointed out that the current financing raised by developed countries is far from enough to help developing countries adapt to climate change, and is estimated to be only one-tenth to one-eighteenth of the adaptation finance needed by developing countries.

"We need to remember that when the very existence of humanity is threatened, there will be no point in pursuing narrow interests, and [developed countries] must stop the senseless arms race and resources must be diverted to raising much-needed funds to combat climate change. Hasina said.

"For the developed countries that have historically emitted the most greenhouse gases globally, it is important to ensure that they can move quickly and take the lead. In an interview with Xinhua News Agency, former Spanish Foreign Minister González stressed that developed countries must provide funds for developing countries to adapt to climate change as soon as possible.

The lack of action by developed countries has exacerbated global divisions

The report notes that the failure of high-income countries to scale up climate finance has exacerbated the North-South divide and slowed action on global climate change.

Developed countries have seriously undermined global trust. At the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, developed countries, which bear historical responsibility for global climate change, pledged to provide $100 billion a year in climate finance to developing countries by 2020, but this has not yet been fulfilled.

In terms of the global green energy transition, renewable energy investment and development opportunities in low-income countries have not received enough attention for a long time. The report points out that despite the huge potential of African countries to develop renewable energy, investment in African countries is still meagre. For example, the African continent has 60% of the world's best solar resources, but only 1% of installed solar capacity.

Moreover, poorer countries, which are often the most affected by climate change, have to devote an increasing share of GDP to climate adaptation, which inevitably exacerbates inequality. The report notes that there is a growing call from low-income countries to establish new financial instruments and reform the international financial system to mobilize more climate investment.

The World Meteorological Organization officially confirmed 2023 as the hottest year on record in January, and 2024 could be hotter than 2023.

In the face of the increasingly pressing global climate challenge, no country is immune. Jennifer Morgan, State Secretary and Special Representative for International Climate Policy at the German Foreign Office, said at a side event on the sidelines of the MMUAN that if action is not taken, everyone will bear the negative consequences, and that to avoid this, global cooperation must be strengthened.