During the interview, Nicolini acknowledged and celebrated the Latin American Youth Climate Summit, which took place in Costa Rica on September 12, 13 and 14. “Instances where young people can exchange experiences, deepen ties and build common positions are always important, which are then transmitted to national governments so that they can be included in the design of public policies,” she reflected. “This cooperation in the face of common objectives is something that those of us who are going to represent the interests of our countries and those of the region at the next COP should be inspired by.”
Regarding the UN conference that will take place from November 6 to 18 in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, Nicolini explained what should be the role of Latin America in the fight against the climate crisis: “We need our role as environmental creditors to be recognized by our financial creditors, through instruments such as the debt swap for climate action.. We need the adaptation agenda, so important for our countries, not to be displaced from the discussions and advance in a balanced way together with the mitigation one”. Next, the policy highlighted the role of science and technology in this scenario: “And we need more technology transfer, to develop local capacities that allow us to generate faster solutions to this crisis and, at the same time, create genuine employment, strengthen our sovereignty.”
Latin America is the most unequal region in the world. As a warning, due to climate-related disasters, the World Bank reports that each year the region loses the equivalent of 1.7 of its GDP. And the impacts of climate change are expected to lead to an increase in extreme poverty of up to 300% by 2023. In this regard, Nicolini stated: “Today the global responses to climate change only deepen the gaps. The richest countries still owe their commitment to mobilize 100 billion dollars to boost the transitions of developing countries”. In relation to the climate objectives of the region, the secretary assured that “in order not to exceed 1.5°C warming as we promised, we need the global financial architecture to contemplate the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities”.
The Secretary of Climate Change noticed the specific situation of the Caribbean countries in the climate crisis: “Another important issue that we have been highlighting from CELAC has to do with the risks they face due to extreme weather events, which are increasingly frequent. The specific financing for losses and damages is a claim that the Caribbean and developing countries will take to COP27, and that we, from Argentina, are going to accompany”.
The role of youth in the regeneration process
Nicolini assured that he sees the role of Latin American youth “with hope but also with a lot of responsibility. With hope because we know that you are committed to this fight: we see it with the recurrent mobilizations, with the proposals – more than legitimate – about the need to promote our energy transition even more and about the need for adequate climate financing for the countries of the region”. Nicolini also expressed the need for a prompt sanction of the Wetlands Lawdespite the fact that the debate in committees of the Chamber of Deputies is paralyzed until further notice, in theory to include the voices of the governors.
In relation to the responsibility that concerns decision makers, the secretary stated: “It requires us to fine-tune listening to interpret their demands and translate them into public policies. It requires us to redouble our regional efforts to fight globally for fairer financing mechanisms. And, of course, it requires us to guarantee their effective participation in decision-making. Make them truly part. That is a goal that we set in my administration.”
The Escazú Agreement as the materialization of the right of access to environmental information
While the agreement advances in countries like Colombia, after having been approved in the Second Commission of the Senate, Nicolini stressed the importance of this achievement for all of Latin America: “The entry into force of Escazú raises the bar for us and demands proactive actions. We know that there is still a long way to go in this regard. But we are also working so that the progressive implementation of the Escazú Agreement is solid and firm”, he assured.
Then, he explained why this policy is so important: “The right to public information is the basis on which the exercise of other access rights rests. Having information allows a better understanding of the problems and a greater awareness of the role of the State. This ensures a more robust and accurate participation in decision-making processes. In addition, accessing up-to-date and truthful environmental information reduces the uncertainty in court rulings in environmental conflicts”.
The history of the Great Country
Nicolini is aware that “consolidating a common position for the negotiations is undoubtedly an objective on which we have to work even more. We aim at this through our pro tempore presidency of CELAC, through the ABU Negotiating Group together with Brazil and Uruguay, and in each instance of regional work”. However, the reasons for uniting claims and being able to present them as a proposal resulting from a single block are clear: “the inequality that affects us, the indebtedness, the problems suffered by environmental defenders in the region, the contribution that the ecosystem services of our common goods make to the health of the planet”.
In conclusion, the Secretary of Climate Change recalled “the history of the Great Homeland and what we are capable of when we join forces. And also, all the opportunities we lose when we don’t. Faced with a global problem such as the climate crisis, integrating ourselves more and pressing together is the way to face solutions”, she closed.
Source: Ambito
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