Mohammed,  who is also the Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, made her call during the the first preparatory meeting for the 2022 conference (pre-COP27 meetings) that was held in the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) of Kinshasa.

She noted that developed nations had promised last year at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26) to double funding for climate adaptation programs to $40 billion per year by 2025.

She added that the figure of $40 billion represents only a fraction of the $300 billion that will be needed every year by developing countries for adaptation by 2030.

In 2009, developed countries had pledged to allocate $100 billion per year by 2020 to assist developing countries in tackling the climate crisis – a pledge that has not been fulfilled.

Loss and damage – Warning systems?

Moreover, Mohammad said that meaningful progress must be made to address climate-related loss and damage.

She stressed that financing for loss and damage is an issue that cannot be deferred any longer.

The deputy secretary-general also urged more support to the efforts of the Secretary-General on ensuring 100 percent global coverage of early warning systems within the next five years.

She noted that six out of every ten persons in Africa lack access to an effective early warning system – the most basic tool to save lives and protect livelihoods.

Also at the event in Kinshasa, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, who is also the president-designate of COP27 that will be held in Sharm El-Shiekh 6-18 November, also called on the developed world to honour its climate pledges to avoid undermining the credibility of the UN conferences on climate change.

“We have not yet delivered on the $100 billion pledge, which in itself is more a symbol of trust and reassurance than a remedy to actual climate needs,” Shoukry told an audience that included 60 ministers from around the world.