27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) - We must all step up action to overcome the Triple Planetary Crisis

The motto of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR)’s National Green Growth Strategy, i.e., “For achieving the economic growth that is efficient, clean, comprehensive, inclusive, fair and resilient to climate change and global economic uncertainties”, emphasising clean and climate-resilient growth, is now more significant than ever in the face of the intertwined and cascading global crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution – the Triple Planetary Crisis. As pointed out by United Nations (UN) Secretary General António Guterres, “the climate crisis is the defining issue of our time”. More broadly, “humanity is waging war on nature”, which calls for urgent and radical change in the way we interact with the environment. The 27th Climate Change Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP27) – which officially opened in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, Sunday 6 November, offers us a chance to reflect on this pressing challenge. The 27th session of the COP takes place 6-18 November 2022 – with a view to building on previous efforts and paving the way for future ambition to effectively tackle the global challenge of climate change.

A threat to sustainable development, globally and in Lao PDR

Today, the Triple Planetary Crisis is the single largest obstacle to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), agreed by world leaders in 2015. As a result of continued greenhouse gas emissions from human activity, global warming has reached 1.1°C compared to pre-industrial levels. Climate change is causing extreme weather with ever-increasing frequency and intensity, threatening to undo hard-won development gains. In 2020, climate shocks forced 30 million people to flee their homes. It also has drastic impacts on human health – between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250 000 additional deaths per year from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress. Biodiversity and people’s well-being are also inextricably linked: biodiversity is the basis for crucial ecosystem services on which we dependent for everything from food to clean water, medicine, and the supply of materials used across economic activity. Yet, our relentless demand for the earth’s resources is devastating ecosystems and accelerating extinction rates, undermining biodiversity and nature’s future ability to provide such contributions. Around 1 million of the world’s 8 million species of plants and animals currently face the threat of extinction. Humanity is also failing to take action to reduce air and water pollution, safely manage chemicals, and reduce and manage waste. As a result, pollution causes around 9 million premature deaths annually.

Certainly, as well as many other developing nations, Lao PDR is not amongst the largest contributors to the crisis. Lao PDR’s greenhouse gas emissions are only a fraction of those of developed nations. Despite worrying trends of an alarming deforestation rate around 1% annually, its nature is still vast and under increased good forestry management, and while it is a rapidly growing issue, pollution also remains less severe here than in many other countries.

But the Triple Planetary Crisis knows no borders and Lao PDR is not immune to the implications of this global emergency. Climate change affects every nation: Lao PDR is projected to experience a 2–3 °C rise in temperature by 2050, and recent tropical storms Mulan and Noru in August and September highlighted the country’s vulnerability to extreme weather events. The current food crisis is already exposing the global nature of food security. Biodiversity loss – threatening annual global crop output worth between US$235 billion and US$577 billion due to pollinator decline – will worsen food insecurity in all countries, including Lao PDR. Pollution is similarly transboundary: air pollution crosses borders and water pollution runs down rivers, not least the regionally significant Mekong River and its tributaries.

We must all take action to protect the environment

Addressing the Triple Planetary Crisis calls for action by all countries, and all people. Lao PDR has already made vigorous efforts in this regard. The 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan 2021-2025 includes targets and activities to mitigate all aspects of the crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The importance of environmental considerations in development is also reflected in the National Green Growth Strategy. To ensure aspirations turn into action, Lao PDR developed the 9th NSEDP Financing Strategy with “green growth and climate finance” as a priority sector. On the international stage, Lao PDR set the regional bar by becoming the first ASEAN country to pledge net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 at the Climate Ambitions Summit in December 2020. Following COP26, Lao PDR announced targets for 2030 including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60%, increasing forest cover to 70% of total land area, promoting increased use of renewable and clean energy through a 30% share of electric vehicles and 10% biofuel.

Notwithstanding such efforts, there are still numerous opportunities and an immediate necessity to step up action. As of today, no country is doing enough. Lao PDR’s limited resilience and near-annual exposure to natural disasters urgently calls for strengthening climate adaptation to shift from cycles of disaster relief to disaster mitigation, preparedness and prevention. Ecosystem-based adaptation solutions tried and tested elsewhere could be cost-effectively implemented in Lao PDR through South-South Cooperation and bring biodiversity co-benefits. During COP26 in Glasgow last year, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement, the Government recommitted to reaching a Net Zero Emission by 2050. To ensure effective implementation, the government has been working with relevant institutions and development partners to develop a strong policy framework including an updated National Climate Change Strategy up to 2030, an updated Nationally Determined Contribution (2021), and to mainstream climate change adaptation and mitigation into the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (2021-2025). In addition, UN research suggests Lao PDR could become carbon neutral by 2040 by adopting a circular economy approach. More immediately, the COP27 in Egypt now officially open will enable the Lao delegation to take part in crucial climate discussions – amongst others on access to climate finance to achieve the country’s net-zero target. It is also an opportune time to further accelerate adoption and implementation of climate-conscious policy.

Beyond government, addressing the Triple Planetary Crisis will require a whole-of-society approach, involving all stakeholders including you and us. To achieve nation-wide green growth, private sector investment must be directed towards environmentally sound technologies, increasingly available and at rapidly decreasing cost. These can be accelerated through targeted fiscal incentives for priority sectors. Applying a human rights-based approach to climate action can improve outcomes and empower the most affected groups and peoples. Lao PDR’s younger generation can also play a role in addressing this crisis. They can make their homes and schools more environmentally friendly by reducing waste and preserving resources such as water and electricity. They can share their creativity and innovative idea to raise awareness on climate change and environmental issue with the whole society. Environmentally-aware youth can set the example – calling on older generations to step up their efforts – and soon become the next generation of decision-makers to implement the radical environmental changes we need.

It is in everyone’s interest to jointly expand environmental protection. And beyond mutual interest, the urgent need to protect nature is above all an opportunity for global solidarity. It is a chance for every individual to act, to make a contribution to the global effort to preserve our common planet, and to play a part in bringing humanity one step closer to living in peace, dignity and equality, within the planetary boundaries upon which all our other aspirations depend.

Op-Ed, co-penned by H.E. Mme Bounkham Vorachit, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, and Ms. Sara Sekkenes, UN Resident Coordinator to Lao PDR.