COP29 hosts unveil busy program as main climate agenda stalls

COP29 hosts unveil busy program as main climate agenda stalls
Key among these is a fund, proposed by Azerbaijan, that intends to raise money for developing countries through donations from fossil fuel producing countries and companies. (AFP)
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Updated 17 September 2024
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COP29 hosts unveil busy program as main climate agenda stalls

COP29 hosts unveil busy program as main climate agenda stalls
  • Key among these is a fund, proposed by Azerbaijan, that intends to raise money for developing countries through donations from fossil fuel producing countries and companies

PARIS: COP29 host Azerbaijan said Tuesday that voluntary pledges on everything from tourism to world peace would be sought at the UN climate summit as disagreements over money stymie the main agenda.
Nations are supposed to agree at the November conference how much should be raised for developing countries to cope with climate change but the formal negotiations so far have been mired in disagreement.
With two months to go, Azerbaijan — which has remained upbeat despite the deadlock — has unveiled over a dozen initiatives on the sidelines that it hopes will “supplement” the difficult talks.
These include asking nations to observe a ceasefire during the marathon summit, to commit to reducing methane from organic waste and emissions from the tourism industry, and pledging to boost global energy storage, among others.
“Successive COP Presidencies have supplemented their mandated programs with non-negotiated action agendas... to achieve ambitious outcomes,” COP29 president Mukhtar Babayev wrote to the nearly 200 nations participating in the summit.
Key among these is a fund, proposed by Azerbaijan, that intends to raise money for developing countries through donations from fossil fuel producing countries and companies.
Azerbaijan — wedged between Iran and Russia and heavily dependent on fossil fuels — is expected to make the first contribution to this so-called “climate finance action fund.”
The fund needs $1 billion and 10 countries as shareholders to launch. Azerbaijan says there has already been early interest, but has not offered specifics.
Voluntary initiatives at the COPs, such as non-binding pledges and commitments, are features of these summits but are distinct from the long and protracted negotiations that produce binding agreements, by consensus, with UN backing.
This year’s summit in Baku is supposed to agree on how much developing countries need to adapt to a warming planet, and where that money should come from.
This target will replace the $100 billion that wealthy countries agreed to pay in climate aid, every year, from 2020.
That amount was only reached for the first time in 2022, and has long been criticized as grossly inadequate.
The lead-up to COP29 has been slow, and two months until the final deliberations nations are no closer to agreeing on what the new figure should be, and who should pay it.
The UN published a draft document in late August setting out seven rough options for a finance deal, laying bare the conflicting positions between nations.


World’s path to peace should no longer be blocked by one or two countries, Kuwait’s ambassador to UN tells Arab News

World’s path to peace should no longer be blocked by one or two countries, Kuwait’s ambassador to UN tells Arab News
Updated 1 min 36 sec ago
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World’s path to peace should no longer be blocked by one or two countries, Kuwait’s ambassador to UN tells Arab News

World’s path to peace should no longer be blocked by one or two countries, Kuwait’s ambassador to UN tells Arab News
  • Tareq AlBanai highlights problem of ability of single veto-wielding UNSC permanent member to obstruct action even when majority supports a motion
  • Landmark Pact for the Future adopted this week at 79th UNGA session commits world leaders to reform Security Council to better reflect today’s realities

NEW YORK: Decades of debate on reforming the UN Security Council reached what some are calling a turning point this week with the adoption of a “groundbreaking” pact that commits member states to implementing long-demanded changes.

For Tareq AlBanai, Kuwait’s permanent representative to the UN, the pact was the culmination of two years of work built on the belief that no single member state should be able to obstruct action on a matter of global urgency.

Since 2022, AlBanai and Austria’s ambassador to the UN have spearheaded the inter-governmental negotiations to reform the Security Council, whose five permanent members have retained their veto power since the UN’s formation in 1945.

AlBanai described his time co-chairing the inter-governmental negotiations on Security Council reforms as a “labor of love.”

“The Security Council is the only body charged with the maintenance of international peace and security,” he told Arab News. “It is the cornerstone of the multilateral system and the UN when it comes to peace and security. The everyday man around the world — when he thinks of the UN, he thinks of the Security Council.

“And when we see the Security Council unable to act on the most pressing situations around the world that threaten international peace and security, you lose faith in this institution.

“And that is not a good thing. It is the only, truly, universal, multilateral system that we have.”

The mounting calls to reform the council are decades in the making.

Countries such as India, Brazil, Germany and Japan have renewed their appeal for permanent seats to better reflect the geopolitical realities of the 21st century. Meanwhile, the Permanent 5 members (US, UK, France, Russia and China) have urged caution, highlighting the need for “consensus and stability.”

The intergovernmental negotiations led by Kuwait and Austria have included discussions on regional representation, the criteria for new permanent members and the balance of power within the Security Council.

“A reformed Security Council, in my opinion, needs to be a place where we can secure collective action through the collective understanding of the members,” AlBanai said.

“No member state should have the ability to stop the majority of the world from taking decisive action on any matter at hand.

“And if they decide to use a prerogative, then there must be ways that we can, as an international community, through the General Assembly or through any other mechanisms we agree on in the future, find an alternative path.

“The path to peace cannot be (stymied) by one, two or even three member states when the majority of the world believes that the way forward is in a specific manner.”

The Pact for the Future — adopted this week at the 79th session of UN General Assembly after nine months of negotiations — offers a consensus vision for cooperation among countries in tackling challenges ranging from climate and artificial intelligence to escalating conflicts and increasing inequality and poverty.

But, more importantly for those eying Security Council reform, the pact also commits world leaders to reform the 15-member organ to better reflect today’s world, “redress the historical injustice against Africa,” which has no permanent seat, and correct the underrepresentation of the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America.

Austria and Kuwait led the negotiations on council reform with vigor, holding a series of televised debates on the topic. Alongside discussions on the main pact, UN members hosted isolated Security Council reform talks, recognizing that the topic could complicate agreements on other issues included in the document.

Guy Ryder, the UN’s under secretary-general for policy, called the language in the pact “groundbreaking,” highlighting the commitment to develop a consolidated model of Security Council reform.

“Now, this might sound rather esoteric, and this would be one of the most difficult things to explain to the person in the street, but for those engaged in this type of process since the 1960s, and the co-facilitators of negotiations, Austria and Kuwait, this is groundbreaking language,” Ryder told Arab News.

AlBanai agreed, highlighting the avenue to substantial reform that the pact has opened.

“Is it groundbreaking? Well, it’s the first time since 1963 that we have a commitment at the head of state and government level to further enhance the Security Council,” he said, calling for a council that is representative, transparent, effective, inclusive, democratic and accountable.

This is essential for the operation of a functioning multilateral system, according to Al-Banai.

“If we can manage through this process to enhance not only the capacity of the Security Council, but the actual shape, form and actions of the council by increasing its membership, by making it more representative of the world we live in today in 2024, and not the world of 1945, then we have achieved something,” he said.

With only the first step on a long journey ahead having been taken, AlBanai is acutely aware that reform has been a painstakingly slow process.

In the months after the UN was founded in 1945, some member states had already recognized the need for a more flexible Security Council. It was only in the late 1970s that some brought the issue of council reform to the attention of the General Assembly.

Yet substantial progress has remained elusive. One of the most significant barriers to reform has been the frequent turnover of diplomats and experts at the UN, which can stifle continuity in discussions.

To address this, AlBanai and his co-chair, Austrian Ambassador Alexander Marshall, prioritized transparency in negotiations.

Through initiatives like webcasting meetings and creating a comprehensive repository of documents, they aimed to make the reform process accessible to a broader audience, including NGOs and academic institutions. That decision has opened the doors for new stakeholders to engage with the reform process, fostering a more inclusive atmosphere for discussion.

One of the most controversial results of the Security Council’s existing format has been the increasingly liberal use of veto power by some permanent members.

In recent years, lone members of the P5 have paralyzed and undermined the credibility of the council, in a pattern that risks damaging the reputation of the entire organization, according to representatives from a wide spectrum of countries. 

AlBanai highlighted the troubling reality of a single veto-wielding permanent member being able to obstruct action, even when the majority of the council supports a motion.

This gridlock has been most evident in discussions surrounding the war in Gaza, with repeated vetoes preventing meaningful action on a ceasefire and urgent humanitarian issues.

“(The veto’s) use or misuse have been a central focus of member states because, unfortunately, one member, or a combination of members, with that ability can stop the movement of the wider international community toward addressing an issue as important as the genocide currently happening in Gaza or any other matter that is under consideration in the Security Council,” AlBanai said.

While many member states advocate for the abolition of the veto, such a change is complex, requiring the agreement of the existing veto holders, he added.

“It’s unrealistic to expect that the current P5 will agree to eliminate their own power.”

To sidestep this quandary, discussions have shifted toward giving new permanent members — should they be added — veto power, but the proposal has proved contentious among member states.

Those in opposition argue for the need to reduce veto use entirely, with calls to ban use of the veto power in cases of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

There remains broad support, however, for expanding council membership, in both permanent and non-permanent categories, and for unrepresented or underrepresented regions and continents, such as Africa and Asia, to have a “meaningful seat” at the table. 

One notable development in the reform discussions came in the form of a recent US proposal to add two permanent seats for Africa in the council, though without veto power.

“What I like about the American proposal is that it invites conversation,” said AlBanai, highlighting the importance of moving from abstract discussion to concrete action.

As part of their efforts, Kuwait and Austria introduced “model discussions,” which invited member states and country blocs to present their models of a reformed Security Council.

“That allows the opportunity to move from a conceptual kind of conversation into an actual, almost 3D conversation, where member states sit at the podium with the co-chairs and present, and then all other member states are given the opportunity to actually ask questions and to, if you will, poke holes in this model,” said AlBanai.

He welcomed the US proposal as a positive step and encouraged other member states to do the same: “The Americans have moved from one African member to now two African members. Maybe they’ll move to two permanent African members with a veto in the future. Who knows? But we have to have that conversation, and we have to inject new blood into it.”

The discussions on UNSC reform have also included a focus on regional representation.

One longstanding proposal that has been almost universally accepted is adding a permanent seat for the Arab world, which has long been advocated by the Arab League.

Cross Regional Groups have also introduced the idea of permanent seats for themselves, such as Small Island Developing States, known as SIDS, as well as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

“We have to consider these ideas,” said AlBanai.

“I don’t know what the criteria is. Is it the number of agenda items that are discussed in the Security Council? Is it your population? Is it the fact that you have the biggest army? The biggest economy? Could it be the number of international treaties that you’ve signed? Your compliance with international law? There are so many criteria out there, and the discussions should help us narrow in on who is deserving of this seat and how that could be in the future.

“But, surely, the most important thing is that we have a Security Council that reflects the realities of today.”
 


UK calls again for immediate ceasefire in Lebanon

UK calls again for immediate ceasefire in Lebanon
Updated 19 min 59 sec ago
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UK calls again for immediate ceasefire in Lebanon

UK calls again for immediate ceasefire in Lebanon
  • Britain’s foreign ministry has advised its nationals to leave Lebanon as soon as possible

LONDON: British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he had spoken with Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Saturday, following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut which killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

“We agreed on the need for an immediate ceasefire to bring an end to the bloodshed. A diplomatic solution is the only way to restore security and stability for the Lebanese and Israeli people,” Lammy said in a statement on social media platform X.

Earlier in the week Lammy told the United Nations’ General Assembly that there should be an immediate ceasefire between Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Israel and that a full-blown war was not in the interest of the people in the region.

Britain’s foreign ministry has advised its nationals to leave Lebanon as soon as possible.


World needs multilateral system that serves interests of all equally: Egyptian FM

World needs multilateral system that serves interests of all equally: Egyptian FM
Updated 38 min 47 sec ago
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World needs multilateral system that serves interests of all equally: Egyptian FM

World needs multilateral system that serves interests of all equally: Egyptian FM
  • Palestinian cause is ‘central issue’ in Arab world, Badr Abdelatty tells UN General Assembly
  • ‘Egypt is committed to continuing its efforts to build a world of peace, justice and prosperity for all’

LONDON: Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Saturday made an impassioned plea for multilateral reform and international solidarity in tackling global crises.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly, he underscored Egypt’s commitment to global peace, development, and cooperation, while calling out what he described as double standards in international affairs.

He said only a more inclusive multilateral system that serves the interests of all would suffice in addressing contemporary challenges threatening a more equitable world order.

“Egypt is committed to continuing its efforts to build a world of peace, justice and prosperity for all,” he added. 

“We call upon the international community to rise to the challenges of this critical juncture in history, to uphold the principles of equality and fairness, and to work together to build a multilateral system that serves the interests of all nations and peoples without discrimination or bias.”

Abdelatty emphasized the urgent need for this reform, especially in the face of the longstanding unresolved issue of Palestine.

He lamented that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains an “open wound” more than 70 years after its inception. 

He was critical of the international community for the stark contrast between its rapid response to crises in certain parts of the world as opposed to the prolonged inaction on others, particularly in the Middle East.

“How can the international community speak about defending the rules-based international system while some issues, such as the Palestinian cause, remain unresolved for over 70 years?” he asked, drawing attention to the “continued suffering” of the Palestinian people under occupation and the “denial of their basic rights.”

He added: “We’ve seen first-hand how swift the reactions were in some conflicts in Europe, which has raised many questions about the selectivity and bias that dominate the international system today.

“This undermines its credibility and further fuels divisions, conflicts and instability in different parts of the world.”

Abdelatty urged the UN and its member states to apply consistent standards to all conflicts and global challenges, calling for a renewed push to resolve the Palestinian issue, which he described as the “central issue” in the Arab world.

As the host of COP27 last year, Egypt had been at the forefront of climate action, he said, highlighting its advocacy for financing, adaptation, and addressing loss and damage in vulnerable regions of the world.

He called for further international cooperation to achieve climate goals and ensure that developing countries, particularly in Africa, receive adequate support.

Abdelatty stressed the need for a unified global fight against terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations,” citing Egypt’s domestic successes in this regard

Underscoring Egypt’s commitment to sustainable development, he called for increased international support to alleviate poverty and boost economic growth and development, particularly in Africa. 

“Development remains the key to achieving lasting peace and stability. Poverty, hunger and inequality continue to plague many developing countries, particularly in Africa,” he said. 

“The international community must prioritize sustainable development, the elimination of poverty, and the promotion of economic growth in these regions.”

Abdelatty also drew attention to the global food security crisis, exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine and disrupted supply chains, and called for a comprehensive international response to ensure vulnerable countries, especially in Africa, are not left behind.


9 dead, 48 missing in migrant boat shipwreck off Spanish island

9 dead, 48 missing in migrant boat shipwreck off Spanish island
Updated 28 September 2024
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9 dead, 48 missing in migrant boat shipwreck off Spanish island

9 dead, 48 missing in migrant boat shipwreck off Spanish island
  • Eighty-four people were on board and 27 were saved after rescuers responded to a distress call received shortly after midnight from off El Hierro
  • This follows the death of 39 migrants in early September when their boat sank off Senegal

MADRID: A boat carrying migrants capsized off Spain’s Canary Islands overnight, killing at least nine and leaving 48 missing, the national maritime rescue service said on Saturday.
Eighty-four people were on board and 27 were saved after rescuers responded to a distress call received shortly after midnight from off El Hierro, one of the islands in the Atlantic archipelago, a statement said.
This follows the death of 39 migrants in early September when their boat sank off Senegal while attempting a similar crossing to the Canaries, from where migrants hope to reach mainland Europe.
Thousands of migrants have died in recent years setting off into the Atlantic to reach Europe onboard overcrowded and often dilapidated boats.
The latest tragedy “again underlines the dangerousness of the Atlantic route,” Canaries regional president Fernando Clavijo wrote on X.
“We need Spain and the EU to act decisively in the face of a structural humanitarian tragedy” as lives are lost “meters from Europe’s southern border,” he added.
In late August, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Mauritania and The Gambia to sign cooperation agreements to crack down on people smugglers while expanding pathways for legal immigration.
As of August 15, 22,304 migrants had reached the Canaries since the start of the year, up from 9,864 in the same period the previous year.
Almost 40,000 migrants entered the Canaries in 2023, a record on course to be broken this year as easier navigation conditions from September tend to lead to a spike in crossing attempts.
The Atlantic route is particularly deadly, with many of the crowded and poorly equipped boats unable to cope with the strong ocean currents. Some boats depart African beaches as far as 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the Canaries.
The International Organization for Migration, a UN agency, estimates that 4,857 people have died on this route since 2014.
Many aid organizations say that is a massive undercount, with Caminando Fronteras, a Spanish NGO that aids migrants, saying 18,680 have died trying to reach Europe.


Pakistani authorities call for vaccination amid resurgence of polio

Pakistani authorities call for vaccination amid resurgence of polio
Updated 28 September 2024
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Pakistani authorities call for vaccination amid resurgence of polio

Pakistani authorities call for vaccination amid resurgence of polio
  • Number of cases in Pakistan this year is the highest since 2021
  • Officials are ‘hopeful’ new strategies will stop the virus spreading

KARACHI: The number of polio cases in Pakistan has risen to at least two dozen so far this year, as local authorities urged citizens on Saturday to vaccinate their children against the virus.

Pakistan is one of the only two countries in the world — alongside neighboring Afghanistan — where polio is still endemic.

In 2024, thousands of Pakistani health workers were involved in nationwide campaigns aimed at vaccinating millions of children under five in a state-driven effort to contain the spread of the virus.

But polio has continued to spread across the country, with the number of cases so far this year surging to its highest since 2021.

After health officials reported the first polio case in Islamabad in 16 years earlier this month, the most recent was reported in Sindh province, where local authorities are urging parents and caregivers to vaccinate their children.

“Vaccinate your children to protect them from disability,” Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said on Saturday.

“There is an urgent need for collective action to eradicate the crippling disease of polio. Every time a new polio case is reported, it causes severe distress. While the world is making strides in development, we have yet to free ourselves from polio.”

Nofil Naqvi, spokesperson for the Emergency Operations Center in Sindh, highlighted that the virus has continued to spread because some children have yet to be vaccinated.

“If every child is vaccinated, it will stop,” Naqvi told Arab News. “We’re implementing several changes in our operations and communication strategies. We are hopeful that we will soon stop this spread, which will lead to the ultimate eradication of the polio virus.”

Polio is a highly contagious and sometimes deadly illness, which once paralyzed hundreds of thousands of children globally each year. Though incurable, it can be prevented through vaccination. After vaccines were introduced in 1955, the number of cases worldwide dropped by more than 99.9 percent.

Pakistan launched the Polio Eradication Program in 1994, after cases were reported to have reached around 20,000 in the early 1990s.

While the number of cases has declined significantly in the last three decades, the nation continues to face challenges. This includes misinformation and militants who attack vaccinators, particularly in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The polio program also faces continued disruptions from natural disasters, such as the deadly floods that have affected much of Pakistan in recent years.