Climate change activists have responded to the United States climate envoy John Kerry’s remarks that his country will not “under any circumstances” pay reparations to developing countries hit by climate change-fuelled disasters.
“We are disappointed and angered by this news, but not surprised, because U.S. Climate Enjoy John Kerry’s words are just the latest example of Kerry and the U.S. refusing to back up their vague claims for U.S. support in global climate progress with real, substantive action,” said Jeff Ordower, 350.org’s North America Director.
“We were cautiously optimistic that COP27 had opened the door for real progress on loss and damage, and for wealthier Global North nations—like the U.S., which is one of the largest emitters globally and bears the largest responsibility for accelerating climate chaos across the globe—to help pay for the disproportionate and irreparable harm to Global South communities,” he added.
Kerry made the remarks at a Congress hearing before flying to China to discuss the issue. His remarks were part of a hearing on the State Department’s climate agenda.
“Again and again, Kerry and Biden have tried to walk a tightrope of limited culpability: they talk a big game about ‘interconnected nations’ and ‘the need for a fossil fuel phasedown,’ but then when it comes time to create actual mechanisms or pay into funds for damage, adaptation, and reparations, or put their words into practice that might actually be meaningful for the Global South communities facing historic and deadline climate impacts every day, they shy away,” Ordower said.
He stressed that 350.org will not stop advocating for U.S. leadership that truly takes accountability for our outsized global role in the climate crisis. That includes loss and damage. That includes climate reparations. That includes actual sacrifice and action that reflects the reality that our reluctance to stop catering to fossil fuel profit has jeopardized the lives of millions, if not billions.
Countries that are suffering the most from extreme weather disasters that are caused by climate change want major economies, which produce the most greenhouse gases, to pay for past emissions.
A fund has been established for poorer nations, but it remains unclear how much richer countries will pay.
