The group noted that women are on the front line of the impacts of climate change, trying to feed their families, their communities, and their countries. They are often the most vulnerable to climate change impacts because they are generally more heavily dependent on climate-sensitive livelihoods
IINTERNATIONAL development agency, Oxfam has identified some shortcomings in the recently concluded COP21 Climate Change Talk, held in Paris saying that the agreement was not that favourable to developing countries.
In a statement signed by the Media and Communications Officer, Oxfam in Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Olawoyin, the organization said that women farmers in Africa are at the front line of dealing with the impact of climate change, but are not getting the support they need from international climate finance, thereby, calling on the government of Nigeria to start the implementation of Country’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the UN Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
According to the Head of Programs, Oxfam in Nigeria, Constant Tchona, the immediate implementation of the INDC will go a long way in providing adaptation measures for the vulnerable, especially female smallholder farmers, while ensuring investment in social safety nets and food reserves to reduce inequality and extreme poverty in the country.
The report of the post cop 21 released titled “Oxfam’s Initial Analysis of the Paris Agreement: What Will the Paris Agreement Be Remembered For”, indicates that despite the joint push from civil society, vulnerable countries and more progressive parts of the private sector, powerful governments failed to put our common interest above that of narrowly defined and short-term interests. While the destination has become clear, the lack of a pathway to stay below 1.5 degrees remains uncertain and dangerous as a result.
“Developed countries agreed to extend the 100bn goal through to 2025, after which a new goal will be set for post-2025 finance mobilization, with 100bn as a floor. It remains unclear if this will be a vague goal that no one can be held accountable to or if it strengthens provisions specifically related to financial support from public sources.
“The Agreement does not strengthen commitment by developed countries but repeats their obligation to provide financial resources in continuation of existing UNFCCC obligations. It encourages others to contribute on a voluntary basis. Mobilization of climate finance should represent a ‘progression’ beyond previous efforts, but no baseline is given to measure progress made”, Tchona said,
He noted that in Paris, adaptation was still treated as an issue for the poorest or most vulnerable. with rich countries saw it as a bargaining chip to secure the buy-in of poorer countries, not an essential part of a robust global response to climate change.
Oxfam Nigeria also believed that even if governments came back to the negotiating table in the next five years to increase their emission cuts, developing countries would still face adaptation costs of at least $520 billion per year by 2050. Overall economic damage to developing country economies under a 2°C scenario is set to reach $1.1 trillion a year.
Meanwhile, he noted that women are said to be on the front line of the impacts of climate change, trying to feed their families, their communities, and their countries and that they are often the most vulnerable to climate change impacts because they are generally more heavily dependent on climate-sensitive livelihoods,
According to Tchona, “Climate change is undermining the ability of African nations to feed themselves. Women smallholder producers are on the front line of dealing with the impacts, but are not first in line for international climate finance.
