Urgent need for UN climate talks to get money to world's poor and vulnerable
"The floods, hurricanes and wildfires that have devastated millions of people's lives from Bangladesh to the Virgin Islands must serve as a wake-up call. There is no question – climate change is here now.
"Governments meeting in Bonn urgently need to agree action that will help the women, children and men whose livelihoods and lives are threatened today, as well as act to reduce future emissions.
"Less than 10 per cent of climate finance committed from international climate funds is being prioritised for local-level activities. This must change. Governments need to agree measures that ensure how and where these funds are invested, directed and used. Their transparency is key, so how they are used can be openly tracked, to improve their effectiveness.
"It is also vital governments increase the amount committed to helping people on the frontline, in order to address the additional strain that climate change is putting on people's ability to thrive. The progress that has been achieved in development must not be undone. This money is crucial to making sure that future development is low-carbon and resilient to climate change."
Contact
For more information, contact Beth Herzfeld (beth.herzfeld@iied.org), IIED's head of media, on +44 (0)7557 658 482.
Notes to editors
- IIED estimates that less than 10 per cent of the US$17 billion climate finance committed from international climate funds by 2016 were prioritised for local-level activities. Committing these funds to every level – national, regional and local – is key. It is critical that the imbalance is addressed and more of this money is channelled to the local level. For more information, see: Delivering real change: getting international climate finance to the local level
- IIED is a policy and action research organisation. It promotes sustainable development to improve livelihoods and protect the environments on which these livelihoods are built. IIED specialises in linking local priorities to global challenges. Based in London, UK it works in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and the Pacific, with some of the world's most vulnerable people to strengthen their voice in the decision-making arenas that affect them – from village councils to international conventions.
For more information or to request an interview, contact Simon Cullen:
+44 7503 643332 or simon.cullen@iied.org