Gobierno de Reconciliación y Unidad Nacional
Unida Nicaragua Triunfa
GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF NICARAGUA
28 CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES OF THE
UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION
ON CLIMATE CHANGE (COP 28)
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 12, 2023
NATIONAL SPEECH OF NICARAGUA
Comrade Valdrack Jaentschke
Minister Advisor for International Affairs
to the President of Nicaragua
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen
1. Our Delegation has the honor to transmit Fraternal Greetings from the President of the Republic of Nicaragua, Comandante Daniel Ortega Saavedra and Comrade Vice President Rosario Murillo Zambrana, to all the Countries present here, and in particular its appreciation to the People and Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for their hospitality at this COP28.
2. We strongly express our support and solidarity with the Brotherly Palestinian People whose cause is present in the global consciousness. Nicaragua recognizes the historical struggle and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to establish their independent State, within the lines drawn before 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen
3. Nicaragua has no historical responsibilities in the cause of Climate Change. Bear in mind that 10 countries with the highest emissions in the world emit more than 83%, while our country emits less than 0.05% of global emissions. Nevertheless, we suffer the impacts affecting up to 8% of our GDP.
4. It is imperative that, in order to preserve and defend the Right to Life in our Mother Earth we must achieve concrete results in this COP28, in line with Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities, a strengthened Climate Justice and the indispensable Reparations, transformed into direct, unconditional and respectful cooperation.
5. It is essential that capitalist countries reduce emissions by at least 50% towards 2030.
6. According to the IPCC, in 2023 more than 3 billion people are threatened by Climate Change in the World, particularly in Central America, Small Island Developing States and the African Continent.
7. There is no doubt that the root of the reasons for Climate Change is the destructive model of production and consumption of the large capitalist economies. What we knew as climate change has become a Climate Crisis, a Planetary Crisis and a Crisis of Values.
8. Therefore, capitalist countries must comply with their financial commitments, at least regarding the previously agreed U$100 billion annually. It is neither fair nor ethical to try to close the financial gap with the commercialization of Mother Earth through the so-called Cooperative Mechanisms, which are nothing more than the carbon markets.
9. Nicaragua recognizes the approval of the Mechanisms for Losses and Damages as one of the most relevant results achieved in this COP28. However, these mechanisms will be insufficient if the capitalist countries continue to increase their emissions and do not reduce them by at least 50% in 2030. The effects on socioeconomic and environmental costs far exceed the funds offered in the mechanisms for losses and damages. In simply terms, the capitalist practice where “whoever pollutes pays” in the context of the climate crisis we face is not applicable.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen
10. We reiterate our position consistently expressed since 2015. The capitalists countries have failed to comply with the Paris Agreements, because their emissions continue to increase, exceeding the norm established by science up to four times, and because they are irresponsibly promoting false options, such as carbon neutrality, thereby seeking to shift their responsibilities to developing countries, while continuing to refuse to recognize the just concept of reparations for affected countries.
11. Finally, Nicaragua reaffirms its commitment to continue working on the Regional and International Agenda to address the climate crisis, according to common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, which is vital for a world of Understanding, Peace, Justice, Solidarity and Development.
Thank you very much, Mr. President.