“Everybody has a role to play”

OFQ: What are the most pressing development challenges? How can South-South and Triangular cooperation address those challenges? 

Dima Al-Khatib: In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic the countries of the Global South are suffering from many development challenges, ranging from low health resilience to financial debt to socioeconomic issues. It is extremely important that the OPEC Fund for International Development is convening these forums to gather the various development actors and the different actors in development finance — because everybody has a role to play. South-South cooperation is an innovative mechanism of solidarity among countries, but it needs to be financed. 

OFQ: Why is targeting net zero without a Just Transition not an option for the climate? 

DAK: In recent years around 90 percent of natural disasters have been attributed to climate change. That means we need to talk about building resilience and strengthening institutions. 

Everybody has a role to play, so we also need to talk about inclusion and the ability of the countries of the South to negotiate on an equal footing with their counterparts in the North. Ultimately, we need to equip developing countries not only to pursue the Just Transition but actually achieve it.