In an exclusive interview with EBC Addis Dialogue, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNOPS Executive Director, Jorge Moreira da Silva, stressed that the global climate agenda must move beyond a narrow focus on emission mitigation and embrace a more holistic approach encompassing adaptation and addressing loss and damage.
While acknowledging the critical importance of reducing emissions and achieving the 1.5-degree Celsius target, da Silva highlighted the alarming trajectory of current national commitments, which project a temperature increase of 2.6 to 2.9 degrees.
He urged greater ambition in transitioning to renewable energy and improving energy efficiency.
However, he emphasized that mitigation alone is insufficient.
Da Silva underscored the crucial need for increased attention and investment in climate adaptation, particularly in regions like the Horn of Africa, which face disproportionately severe climate impacts despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions.
This inherent injustice of the climate crisis demands greater solidarity and support for vulnerable countries to adapt to the unavoidable consequences of past emissions, such as increasingly frequent and intense floods, hurricanes, and cyclones.
He advocated for targeted investments in water management, forest preservation, spatial planning, and comprehensive risk management strategies to enhance resilience in the face of these escalating climate-related disasters.
Beyond adaptation, Da Silva highlighted the importance of addressing loss and damage, acknowledging the irreversible harm already inflicted upon developing countries by emissions from developed nations.
He called for increased support for two key initiatives: the Loss and Damage Fund, which requires significantly more resources to effectively compensate developing countries, and the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage, managed by UNOPS and UNDRR, which provides technical assistance to help nations rebuild and strengthen their resilience.
Addressing Ethiopia's ongoing multi-sectoral reforms, including infrastructure development and re-engineering efforts, Da Silva expressed his awareness of initiatives like the "Pathway for Prosperity" and the "Green Legacy" program.
He commended these efforts, recognizing their potential to contribute to sustainable development and climate resilience.
Da Silva’s call for a more comprehensive climate agenda resonates deeply in regions like the Horn of Africa, where the impacts of climate change are already being acutely felt.
His emphasis on adaptation, loss and damage, and the need for increased international solidarity offers a crucial roadmap for a more just and equitable response to the global climate crisis.
He stressed that even if all emissions ceased today, the consequences of past actions would continue to manifest, adapting a non-negotiable component of effective climate action.
Da Silva’s interview provides a timely reminder that the climate crisis demands a multifaceted approach that goes beyond simply reducing emissions.
By prioritizing adaptation and addressing loss and damage, the international community can better support vulnerable nations in navigating the unavoidable impacts of climate change and building a more resilient future.
He urged the international community to move beyond rhetoric and translate commitments into concrete action, providing the necessary financial and technical support to developing countries to implement effective adaptation and loss and damage strategies.
This integrated approach, he argued, is essential for achieving a truly just and sustainable global response to the climate crisis.