adaptation

There is likely to be a climate deal in Paris. The emission pledges that more than 150 governments have put on the table this year show that global climate ambition is increasing. In this briefing Oxfam looks at potential game-changers on finance and mitigation ambition that could avert these costs for the world’s poorest people.

Asia is home to some of the world’s fastest growing economies. Yet millions of people remain poor, while a handful gets richer and richer.

Oxfam welcomed reports of increased climate finance pledges made by finance ministers in Lima today, but warned that only a fraction is meant to help countries most vulnerable adapt to the devastating effects of climate change.

In Cambodia, recurrent drought periods and floods have become a major concern and a big challenge for many farmers. With support from a local organization funded by Oxfam, Mrs. Sao Khea, a Cambodian farmer learned about how to overcome these challenges and minimize the risks caused by climate change.

The call by The Holy Father, His Holiness Pope Francis, reminds us that climate change is first and foremost about people.

Negotiators avoided a show-down over crunch issues like finance and increasing near term emissions cuts, but they are only delaying the inevitable. A clearer mandate from Heads of State and ministers is needed to ignite the talks and ensure key questions are answered.

Oxfam is deeply disappointed by Japan’s lack of ambition.  Setting a draft target of 26% emissions reduction below 2013 levels (18% below 1990 levels) by 2030 is woefully inadequate. 

A commitment to increase and accelerate public finance is adaptation’s bottom-line.  Without it, the Paris agreement will be a mitigation deal for big emitters, not a climate change agreement for all. This briefing sets out Oxfam's demands on adaptation finance post 2020 that need to be agreed in Paris at the end of this year.

All countries must use the COP20 Summit in Lima to resolve the impasse over “climate finance,” and make success possible at the critical Paris talks in December 2015, says international agency Oxfam.

Many countries in Asia, including Bangladesh, Viet Nam, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Philippines, should invest more in their governments’ capacity to protect their citizens given the region's vulnerability to climate change.