I am Rachitaa Gupta from the Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice. I voluntarily disclose that I have no ties to the fossil fuel industry or other emission intensive industries and no conflict of interest and invite others to also disclose the same as they speak. We want to highlight the new report that has just come out that shows there are nearly 1800 fossil fuel lobbyists at this COP and we know when they come here it is only to influence and prioritise their profit rather than people’s interests. 

We cannot ignore the contrast between shrinking of meaningful space for rightsholder constituencies on one hand, and the vastly increasing power and influence of the polluting interests like the fossil fuel lobbyists over this process on the other hand. We seek your support in constituting a meaningful observer engagement process within UNFCCC.

We are all gathered to be part of discussions and negotiations that have serious implications on our lives and communities in the global south. Yet we come here year after year with no meaningful progress or solutions for our communities back at home who are at the frontline of this crisis yet least responsible for it.

We all know that this is a crucial COP since it is called “finance COP”. We hope to see ambitious public finance commitments from the parties, especially the developed countries who have the historical responsibility. We condemn the priorities of the countries around the world, especially rich countries choosing to fund and fuel genocides, war, and conflict around the world rather than funding climate action and justice. These issues are deeply interlinked- there is no climate justice on occupied land, and these same actors are perpetuating both the climate crisis and the genocide and systemic violence happening around the world. We raise the demand of 5 trillion USD per year to be delivered as need based with a core of public grant-based finance through non-debt creating mechanisms.

It is imperative that the UAE dialogue focus on finance and not be diluted to cover everything and thus nothing.

We insist on more accountability from the rich countries to deliver on the commitments that they make here to make sure they are not just lip service but actually deliver on the urgent climate action. As you know Data compiled by the UNFCCC Secretariat shows that developed countries have fallen far short of their formal pledges to reduce deadly greenhouse gas emissions, fulfilling only about one-quarter of the cuts urged by scientists.

We are deeply concerned about the undemocratic process the COP Presidency took to push the Supervisory Body of Article 6.4 text through without proper party-driven process. The guidance in the CMA room on A6.4 has been rushed with parties voicing concerns just this morning about the lack of proper process and we are seriously concerned about the precedent that has been set here.

Carbon markets are not real climate finance. These dangerous distractions of false solutions and speculative and untested technologies of geoengineering are like a get out of jail free card for polluters without real emission cuts that need to happen urgently and immediately. These false solutions have a history of continuing the horrific violation of the Indigenous Peoples’ rights and human rights of our communities and need to stop.

Lastly, we would like to reiterate that rich countries need to step up to their historical responsibility of supporting global south countries with finance and technology. Defund genocide, fund climate justice.