Kikwete tips on climate talks

Warsaw- Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete has said climate change talks will remain meaningless as long as financing for adaptation and mitigation for the cause is not effected.

Speaking at the opening of the high-level climate change talks in Warsaw, Poland yesterday, President Kikwete said he was particularly disappointed by the fact that Least Developed Countries had not received any financing and the little that is secured is given to middle income countries.

The Green Climate Fund was initiated in the earlier climate change conference in which
developed countries should meet their obligation to annually provide $100 billion in climate finance by 2020 through funds originating from public sources, including assessed budgetary contributions and public sources.

To date, however, money for the Fund has been in pledges and not in actual cash, a fundamental reason climate change conferences have largely been rated unsuccessful.
“I expect that during the discussions, parties agree on ways to unlock the various obstacles and explore new finance avenues that are predictable, sustainable and transparent,” Mr Kikwete said, adding that the finance mechanisms of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change had not been transparent, with many of the LDC receiver countries not knowing how much and who pledged.

Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka, who is also co-chairing the high-level meeting on finance in Warsaw, said in addition to developed countries financing the Fund, developing countries should be assisted in finding ways of mobilising funds locally.

“We are aware of the problem and it is up to scientists here to show us how we can contribute to financing. We need practical and realistic,” Ms Kiwanuka said.