Palestine

State of Palestine

Chairperson of Environment Quality Authority

It’s our pleasure in the State of Palestine to join this initiative the “PLATFORM for REDESIGN 2020” led by the Government of Japan, because we sincerely believe in the importance of partnership, networking in combating climate change. We are glad to join this important global platform that helps and supports countries in implementing their NDCs which are the one of the most important tools to achieve the targets of Paris Agreement as well as UNFCCC.
During the last two years, Palestine’s was able to achieve much more than what was expected, as a small country that is under occupation and suffers from complexity of challenges.
Palestine gives high focus on the Development of Palestine’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) implementation action plans in the most vulnerable sectors mentioning: Energy, Agriculture, Health, Water, Solid waste, Transport and Gender among others, and the provision of policy recommendation to guide the implementation of the NDC implementation action plans”. In addition to updating 1st NDC and setting up a national MRV system. As countries are making huge effort towards the implementation of their NDCs and increase their climate ambition, COVID-19 brought unanticipated disruption to the numerous initiatives and climate plans made by countries in the last two years. Despite those challenges, Palestine made enormous attempts using different approaches and modalities to address and fast-track implementation of its NDCs, by providing in-country technical expertise and capacity building towards enhancement of its green, low carbon and climate resilient development objectives.
Palestine saved no efforts to tackle climate change and its impact in spite of the Israeli Occupation which we consider as an amplifier for all climate negative consequences, especially when it comes to competing Palestinians on their limited natural resources.
On behalf of the Palestinian government I warmly thank the government of Japan for this initiative and we are looking for further collaboration for enhancing the work to combating climate change.

State of Palestine

Ex-Chairman of Environment Quality Authority

Greetings from State of Palestine and many thanks for this initiative which comes in these difficult days of unprecedented challenges that needs unprecedented, innovative and creative solutions.

COVID-19 is Real, serious and threatening human lives of our generation. We eye witnessed it devastating socio-economic impacts represented in loss of lives, loss of incomes and immense economic losses. The good news is that COVID-19 was successful in motivating our governments to take the wise bold decisions in mobilizing trillions of dollars to contain the pandemic and its impact.

In comparison, Climate change likewise, is real and serious, but threatening the lives of current and future generations, we eye witnessed and still witnessing its huge social, economic and environmental impacts all over the globe. We are scientifically confident that future impacts will be tougher and are expected to hit harder in the nearest future if we did not take the right decisions and pursue swift actions to curb the emissions in a timely manner.

Unfortunately, the reality is that the collective efforts of all governments were not able so far to contain the impact of climate change despite the twenty-five years of the UNFCCC process, in contrary, and despite warnings from scientists, the emissions have continued to rise as global temperatures continued to soar. This rate of increase in GHG is expected to lead to temperature rise, possibly to around 0.30C a decade, as carbon emissions continue on their upward trajectory. In addition, the staggering truth is that in the same period 28 trillion tonnes of ice have disappeared from the surface of the Earth. “The level of ice loss revealed recently by a group of scientists matches the worst-case-scenario predictions outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This rise in the sea level, triggered by melting glaciers and ice sheets, could reach a meter by the end of the century. This is translated into: displacement of one hundred million people from their homeland and becoming an environmental refugee.

Finally, I strongly call for Enhancing the meaningful participation of local communities and indigenous people, children and youth in climate change processes, in order to ensure that their future is safe and they are engaged in the recovery plans.

In Conclusion, Determination combined with a unified, collective and inclusive efforts is the only way forward to pursue resilient and smart recovery. Reminding all that no one should be left behind including people under occupation which is considered as an amplifier for all severe impacts of COVID-19 as well as of climate change.

I thank you.