Wealthier nations have benefited most from the use of fossil fuels to build and power vital infrastructure and services. Low-income countries have benefited least but are now the most heavily impacted by the severe negative impacts associated with the burning of fossil fuels, particularly the impacts of climate change, destruction of nature, and air pollution. North America and Europe have contributed 62% of carbon dioxide emissions since the Industrial Revolution, whereas Africa has contributed only 3%. It is estimated that the climate crisis has destroyed a fifth of the global domestic product (GDP) of the countries most vulnerable to climate shocks. It is highly unjust that the most impacted nations have contributed least to global cumulative emissions.
Equity must be at the centre of the global response, with wealthier nations accounting for their cumulative, historical contributions, current emissions, and capacity to respond. In order to avoid catastrophic temperature rises, wealthier nations must cut emissions more rapidly and provide financial support to more vulnerable nations to enable them to develop resilience against existing and future climate impacts.
At COP28, there was global consensus for “transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner” and although not-legally binding, it places an obligation on the UK to support the acceleration of the global transition away from fossil fuels. At COP28, the UK also signed the global renewables and energy efficiency pledge to triple renewable capacity and double the rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030. The CCC has warned that achieving the associated 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) will require the rate of emission reductions outside of the electricity sector in the UK to quadruple from that of recent years and that addressing these gaps in a transparent way is one of the most important ways for the UK to show climate leadership.
The loss and damage fund agreed at COP28 resulted in many developed nations committing to the fund to provide financial support for some of the irreversible losses and impacts that developing countries are facing from global heating. To date, pledges have fallen short of what is needed. The UK has pledged £60 million to the fund, however, Climate Action Network has warned that while UK support is welcome, the amount allocated comes from existing commitments and significantly falls short of what is needed. As a wealthy nation with a significant history of carbon emissions, the UK has a moral duty to address the inequalities between those responsible and those most impacted by the climate crisis. There is no justice in fossil fuel companies making enormous profits while vulnerable nations are left to pick up the cost.
International perception of the UK’s climate ambition has suffered from mixed messages following announcements on new fossil fuel developments, the failure to meet existing targets, and the softening of some net zero policies. It is important that the UK seeks to retain its position as a credible leader in climate action through a stronger delivery of domestic targets while supporting international goals.