Leaders must work on behalf of the world’s poorest communities to limit global warming and greenhouse gas emissions at COP30 as humanity is set for a deadly breach of the 1.5°C red line by the next decade, Islamic Relief says.
Despite successive COP summits each year global emissions have continued to increase with last year’s emissions reaching a record high. The World Metrological Organisation has said emissions have continued to rise this year and global temperatures continue to climb with 2024 marking the first temporary breach of 1.5°C global warming. A further more continuous breach of 1.5°C is expected within ten years.
At this years COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil to be held between 10 – 21 November Islamic Relief is calling for nation states to set more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with 1.5°C by phasing out fossil fuels and protecting ecosystems. Under the current NDC targets warming is set to increase by 2.3 – 2.5°C by the end of the century with each fraction of a degree having deadly consequences for people and planet including many of the over 14 million people we serve.
Islamic Relief programmes, staff, and the people we support are already seeing the fallout. In Bangladesh climate vulnerable communities we work with like local fishermen report warming water, reduced fish stocks due to pollution, and environmental degradation of their rivers jeopardising their incomes and survival.
One of the fishermen told Islamic Relief: “We lead very simple lives, but our suffering is worsened by the consumerist culture of the rich. Food waste, plastic pollution — all of these are destroying our rivers and livelihoods.”
Shahin Ashraf, head of advocacy at Islamic Relief Worldwide said:
“The climate crisis is a disaster for all people but it is particuarly devastating for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable including many of the over 14 million rightsholders we serve. Islamic Relief is consistent in using its voice at COP to call for leaders to protect people and planet by making decisions which reduce greenhouse gas emissions and runaway global warming within 1.5°C.“
“The Nationally Determined Contribution made by nation states must be reset at COP30 to close the gulf between our current global warming trajectory and the red line of 1.5°C which we should not transgress. Ten years on from the Paris climate agreement it’s time for world leaders to match words with actions at this summit.”
Jamie Williams, a senior policy advisor at Islamic Relief Worldwide said:
“This COP30 summit needs to be centred on renegotiating national NDC contributions to make global greenhouse gas emission targets more ambitious over the next decade and close the gap between our current trajectory and the 1.5°C red line targets. This is a life or death matter for the people we serve.”
Islamic Relief is also calling for 1.3 trillion dollars a year in climate finance for developing countries by 2035 as was agreed in Baku, and 40 billion dollars adaptation finance provided to them annually by the end of this year. In addition Islamic Relief supports targets for reaching net zero by 2050, and halting and reversing deforestation by 2030.
