Climate Crisis: Developed Countries Must Own Up to Their Sins - Denmark Ambassador

Accra, Ghana - December 30, 2024 - Denmark's Ambassador to Ghana, Tom Norring, has sounded a clarion call to developed countries to take responsibility for their role in climate change.

In an exclusive interview with Lead News' Florence Kyei, Ambassador Norring emphasized that the industrialized world has benefited from activities that have led to climate change, while vulnerable countries like Ghana bear the brunt of its impacts.

"Climate change is maybe the single biggest issue for this planet," Ambassador Norring noted. "The sad story is that what the industrialized world, thus the developed countries, have benefited from has always created the situation we are in."

Ambassador Norring pointed out that Ghana is amongst the most vulnerable countries in the world. He emphasized that international mechanisms like the COP (Conference of the Parties) help, but more needs to be done to find solutions.

"The sinners, developed countries, should think a little more about the victims, vulnerable countries," Ambassador Norring stressed. "We, Denmark, have the funding mechanisms, but to see the funding reach the most vulnerable, we have an issue. The funding has not been sufficient."

Ambassador Norring highlighted that Denmark is committed to delivering on its climate financing pledges and has been advocating for increased action from other developed countries. He noted that Denmark is one of the top 5 countries that live up to delivering 0.7% of its GDP in development aid yearly.

Despite the efforts of countries like Denmark, Ambassador Norring expressed concern that bigger emitters like China, Russia, and the United States have not shown sufficient commitment to addressing climate change.

''Bigger sinners like China, Russia have zero commitments to Climate change. The Americans now have a president who thinks Climate change is a hoax. If you look at these, you see that there are worrisome signs.

''Another worrisome sign is that COP has been happening in oil producing countries in the past two years with no commitment. I understand they could not stop oil production but they could make some contributions to balance out the scales yet they haven't. We have some issues there and I understand why these vulnerable countries are under severe pressure and don't understand why we [developed countries] come with our message of dealing with climate change, reducing fossil production, fossil fuels, renewable energy and efficiency.

"We need to have the commitment and not just talk," Ambassador Norring emphasized. "We all need to contribute, and that will be the message,'' he noted.

''The ice caps in Greenland are melting. We're all living with the risks but you are the most vulnerable right now. Ghana is amongst the most vulnerable countries in the world. International mechanisms like the COP helps, however, I believe we have not made enough to find solutions.''

''We [Denmark] have the funding mechanisms but to see the funding reach the most vulnerable, we have an issue.The funding has not been sufficient. Pledges by developed countries don't matter, it is all talk. But Denmark have walk the talk with very large part of our development aid program. Denmark is one of the top 5 countries that live up to delivering 0.7% of our GDP in development aid yearly. But we are just a small piece of the big puzzle. We've been walking the talk by taking a lot of that money and channeling into climate financing and continue to do so,'' he added.

''Denmark has been pushing hard in COP meetings over the years. I'm proud that our Minister for Development Climate Cooperation and Global Climate Policy, Dan Jørgensen has been sitting in the chair at the last 3 or 4 COPS, advising, running the negotiations on climate financing but despite all these mechanisms we still need to have the commitment and not just talk.''

''Yes, you're right, we need to find solutions. Unfortunately we cannot stop that message as we've seen the consequences of industrialisation are dire for the planet. So no matter whether we live in Africa or Europe or United States, South America or whatever, we all live with the consequence and the consequences are serious. So we all need to contribute, that will be the message and that is our message,'' he concluded.

Source: Florence Kyei /Lead News Online