Climate: aid promises from rich countries still not kept, according to the OECD
One and a half months before COP26 in Glasgow, the OECD notes that the countries of the North have not kept their commitments in terms of financial assistance to the countries of the South to face the consequences of global warming.
REUTERS - PETER NICHOLLS
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
A month and a half before COP26 in Glasgow, the OECD makes this observation on climate aid for poor countries: in 2009 in Copenhagen, the countries of the North had committed to increasing to 100 billion dollars per year. by 2020, assistance to countries of the South to adapt to the impacts of climate change and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
The account is not there.
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The promises of rich countries on climate finance are still not kept, notes the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
In 2019, the latest year for which data is available, their contribution amounted to $ 79.6 billion, an increase of only 2% compared to 2018 (78.3 billion).
Far from the 100 billion promised at the Copenhagen summit in 2009.
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This unfulfilled commitment arouses the anger of poor countries, when they are the first victims of the effects of climate change.
According to these countries, the huge investments they face to reduce polluting emissions or protect themselves from storms, floods and rising waters are simply not possible without the support of developed countries.
However, since 2017, this aid has continued to slow down.
Figures for 2020
, which may be affected by the pandemic, will not be available until next year.
However, it would take a massive $ 20 billion increase to reach the $ 100 billion target.
Stumbling block for COP26
In this context, the discussions of the COP26, scheduled for November in Glasgow, could fail because of mistrust between rich and poor countries, said Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary general.
In 2019, funds for actions to reduce emissions still represent two-thirds of the total, with a focus on the energy and transport sectors.
Even if aid intended for adaptation to the impacts of climate change has increased by 20% to 20.1 billion dollars.
As for the geographical distribution, Asia is still the main beneficiary (43%), ahead of Africa (26%) and the Americas (17%).
Every year, the assessments of the OECD are challenged by NGOs questioning the sincerity of certain funding labeled "climate".
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Environment
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