Prime Minister Philip Davis in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, September 25. Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
By KEILE CAMPBELL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said fossil fuel companies should contribute two percent of their profits to a climate fund that aids vulnerable countries, noting the Attorney General is pushing the International Court of Justice to compel firms to pay because they may not do so willingly.
Mr Davis made the comments in an interview with the Associated Press.
Caribbean leaders agreed to call for a two percent levy on oil exports to fund loss and damage for climate-vulnerable countries in 2022 in preparation for the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27).
During closing remarks at Tuesday’s International Black Men’s Empowerment Summit held at Margaritaville Beach Resort, he criticised the slow progress on the Loss and Damage Fund, which is designed to help countries affected by climate-related events.
He said: “The world has agreed to a Loss and Damage Fund, but our concern is, will these funds be mobilised in time?”
“We cannot afford another decade of empty pledges,” he said.
Mr Davis emphasised The Bahamas’ disproportionate suffering from climate impacts, despite contributing less than 0.01 percent of global emissions.
Meanwhile, during an event in New York yesterday marking Climate Week, Attorney General Ryan Pinder called out the systemic barriers that have prevented small island developing states from accessing climate finance, criticising the process for being bogged down by complex requirements that nations like The Bahamas could not easily navigate.
He emphasised that while funding to combat climate change was theoretically available, countries like The Bahamas had been left struggling due to bureaucratic red tape and a lack of capacity.
“We have 400,000 people, and I could count the number of climate experts in The Bahamas on my fingers and toes,” he said. “The processes to access climate finance are overly complicated, making it nearly impossible for small nations with limited expertise and manpower to qualify.”
Mr Pinder, while criticising what he considered inefficiencies in current international financing structures, explained that the layers of conditionalities attached to climate funds — funds meant to help countries rebuild after disasters — were daunting for smaller nations.
He said with each hurricane or flood, vulnerable countries were forced to jump through hoops to secure money, all while dealing with the immediate aftermath of climate-driven destruction.
“Not only are we fighting the climate crisis, but we’re also battling these bureaucratic hurdles,” he said. “The process seems to get more complicated every year, and that’s unacceptable when lives and livelihoods are on the line.”
Mr Pinder said the issue had been exacerbated by the fact that The Bahamas has been classified as a high-income country based on its GDP per capita, automatically disqualifying it from many concessionary financing opportunities. This, he argued, painted a distorted picture.
“Yes, we have wealthy expatriates boosting our GDP, but the average Bahamian does not share in that wealth,” he said. “If you isolate the real Bahamians, we would easily qualify for concessionary funding.”
The attorney general said this misclassification forced The Bahamas to borrow money at high interest rates just to rebuild after disasters like Hurricane Dorian, which caused $3.4 billion in damages.
He called for implementing a vulnerability index to prioritise access to climate finance, ensuring that the nations most affected by climate change were given top consideration.
“We are facing catastrophic losses, yet we contribute almost nothing to global emissions,” he said. “We should not be made to pay for the damage we didn’t cause.”
Comments
moncurcool 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Is the guy head jammed?
Fossil fuel companies contribute 2%? So why are we still using fossil fuels in this country?
The fact that we are still using what you want people to contribute 2% from clearly shows you he himself does not believe in fossil fuels being harmful.
Davis runs overseas and spews nonsense that he does not practice in his own country.
Porcupine 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Mr Davis says, "We cannot afford another decade of empty pledges." Wow, what a statement! The Bahamian people cannot afford another round of your administration pledging they will become more transparent, more democratic, more honest, more accountable and in favor of campaign finance reform, when you have done none of it. None. What has The Bahamas done to help mitigate the climate emergency? Nothing! Have we educated our people? No! Do we have educated parliamentarians who understand the science? No! Have we as a country done anything that would help raise awareness? No! Have we prepared our Family Islands? No! Have we acted like we are part of a global community, or do we ALWAYS have our hand out for more money? I find it interesting Mr. Prime Minister, that you would criticize the bureaucracy in trying to access climate funds. Have you ever tried opening a bank account in The Bahamas, or opening a business? The World Bank Ease of Doing Business Report is very clear on where The Bahamas stands. Embarrassing, isn't it Mr. Davis? To be the Prime Minister of a banana republic? That while you are talking this talk about getting money for climate change your administration cannot even provide running water, reliable electricity, acceptable phone and internet service for your people. We can't even manage to get license plates for the nations vehicles. The Bahamas is crumbling, and you are out there begging for money. Certainly money that none of us deserve. You are right about the fact that most of your nations people are poor. So, what have you done to change the very anti-Christian regressive taxation system? The same system that allows people like you to pay a much much lower percentage of your income than MOST other Bahamians. This is just fine with you, hey? I suppose it is. We have far too many people and politicians in this country who want to make a lot of money without working for it. The Bahamas is in the poor state it is in precisely because of this mentality. It is as much our own selfish people as anyone else.
Dawes 1 month, 3 weeks ago
So he wants to make it more expensive to come here? Maybe he should make sure we have another industry rather then tourism before he does that.
Porcupine 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Mr. Pinder says, "We have 400,000 people, and I could count the number of climate experts in The Bahamas on my fingers and toes,” he said. “The processes to access climate finance are overly complicated, making it nearly impossible for small nations with limited expertise and manpower to qualify.” Is there a law against reading in this country? So, what gives for the ignorance in this country? A valid question, yes? Mr Pinder, please stop talking about bureaucracy elsewhere, when it is utterly horrible here.
He also said "with each hurricane or flood, vulnerable countries were forced to jump through hoops to secure money, all while dealing with the immediate aftermath of climate-driven destruction." Since when did hurricanes in The Bahamas become a surprise? Plan ahead Mr. Pinder, like all responsible entities do. Instead of being forced to borrow at very high interest rates. Hurricanes happen dude. And, you don't have to be a climate expert to read where they will be getting stronger and more frequent. More loans, on top of the onerous loans we already have due specifically to the political class we have been cursed with. Every time people from this administration open their mouths, the country's IQ drops a few points. Mr. Pinder further states, "We are facing catastrophic losses, yet we contribute almost nothing to global emissions,” he said. “We should not be made to pay for the damage we didn’t cause.” I would say, talk to God, Mr. Pinder. Hurricanes have been around for eternity. That we fail to plan should not be everyone else's burden. Wayne Neely has a few books on the hurricanes of The Bahamas. They occurred before combustion engines. Sorry Mr. Pinder, your words fall short of convincing.
AnObserver 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Damn skippy. We need to have the money to send our PM on more free vacations all around the world!
TalRussell 1 month, 3 weeks ago
The Attorney General IS also to take note of those who are not to do so willingly to contribute two percent of their profits to a climate fund that aids our vulnerable colony of Islands.-- None more needs pushing by our own Court of Justice, so as to compel local fossil fuel operators like Shell, Esso, Texaco and Rubis with service stations, marinas and distributors -- Scattered across Nassau Town and the Out Islands -- Are to contribute two percent of their local profits to a Popoulaces' Controlled Climate Fund that is guaranteed to benefit our vulnerable colony of islands. -- Profits going back to the first day/year of a stream of cash flow and for an indefinite lifespan. -- Hello!
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