A group of the countries most at risk from climate change have committed to 100 per cent renewable energy “as rapidly as possible”.
The Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), which represents 48 nations from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific, also committed to update their climate action plans submitted as part of the UN climate pact agreed in Paris last year and prepare low-carbon development strategies for mid-century, both before 2020.
The decision was made at the UN Climate Change Conference at Marrakech with the Forum agreeing that “climate action foes not limit development – it strengthens it”.
All Forum members committed to take actions to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
“Today’s commitment by the member countries of the Climate Vulnerable Forum to move toward powering their economies entirely with renewable energy is a bold vision that sets the pace for the world’s efforts to implement the Paris Agreement and move even more quickly to solve the climate crisis,” former US Vice President Al Gore said in a statement.
Ministers and heads of delegations of the CVF adopted the Marrakech Communique and the Marrakech Vision.
The Communique called for greater ambition emphasising that any country with an NDC not yet compliant with its fair share consistent with the Paris Agreement’s long-term goal must update contributions by 2020 at the latest.
It also called on honoring commitments, investing in climate finance and the need to transform market place.
The Vision adopted recognises the steps the Forum will undertake to keep the dangers of climate change to an absolute minimum and extend this to maximise the advantage taken of the benefits of climate action, including striving to achieve 100 per cent renewable energy the latest between 2030 and 2050.
Climate Vulnerable Former-Forum Chair, H.E. Dr. Gemedo Dalle, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change invited all CVF members to pursue robust domestic climate action, and to encourage other countries to deliver the targets the Forum has embraced.
“Without stronger climate action, we might not survive, and this is not an option,” he said.
H.E. Mattlan Zackhras, Hon. Minister in Assistance to the President of the Marshall Islands, said that this is a turning point in climate leadership and transformation that is bound to secure a safer future for vulnerable communities.
Minister Zackhras added: “We are pioneering the transformation towards 100% renewable energy, but we want other countries to follow in our foot steps in order to evade catastrophic impacts we are experiencing through hurricanes, flooding and droughts,” Minister Zackhras said.
