Report: Little climate aid for poor countries could threaten global treaty

Failure by wealthy countries to help poor nations build up their defenses against climate change impacts is threatening negotiations on a global treaty addressing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report.

A report released ahead of Tuesday’s United Nations Climate Summit in New York found that poorer countries are spending substantial amounts from their national budgets on climate change adaptation, and international support has not been forthcoming.

{mosads}The problem with that, researchers from the London-based Overseas Development Institute (ODI) say in the report, is that a lack of help from richer nations could derail talks for “wider climate negotiations.”

“The international community has fundamentally failed to put in place at sufficient scale either the financing or the delivery mechanisms needed to strengthen the resilience and enhance the adaptation capabilities of vulnerable people,” the report states.

“Neglect of adaptation matters because it limits the resources available for poor countries to protect people, their social, economic infrastructure from climate change,” it adds.

To illustrate, researchers said three multilateral funds provided less than $130 million per year to countries in sub-Saharan Africa from 2008-2011.  

Comparatively, Germany spent $10.9 billion on flood damage in 2013 alone, according to ODI researchers.

With 15 months left before global leaders head to Paris for the U.N. climate meeting, vulnerable countries will be looking to wealthy nations for funding to help prepare for the impacts of droughts, flooding and extreme weather brought on by climate change.

“For many of the world’s poorest countries international support for adaptation has become a touchstone for the credibility of any agreement,” the report states.

“This reflects the deeper climate justice issues at stake,” it adds.

Poor countries’ need for climate funding is likely a driver behind President Obama’s latest executive actions, which he plans to announce Tuesday at the U.N. summit in New York.

Rather than unveiling new efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, Obama is focusing on helping other countries build up resilience to climate change.
 
The president plans to tell global leaders the U.S. will require federal agencies to factor climate resilience when investing and designing international development programs.

The U.S. will also provide new scientific and technology tools to “vulnerable populations around the world” to bulk up their protections against climate change, the White House said Tuesday.

Such aid may prove critical in convincing poorer nations to set high targets, and fight global warming, according to the report.