Without Climate Finance, No Climate Action, Says ACT Alliance

Bennett Oghifo

A group, ACT Alliance has said without climate finance, there would be no climate action, concerned that almost a week into the UN Climate Talks of COP25 in Madrid, Spain negotiations were not yet at the point that is necessary to deliver ambitious results.

ACT Alliance said in a statement that one of the increasingly contentious topics was climate finance. It is addressed in a number of the negotiation streams in relation to Long-Term Finance, the Green Climate Fund, Reporting on climate finance, Loss and Damage finance and support for the implementation of the Gender Action Plan.

Head of ACT Alliance’s delegation to COP25, Mattias Söderberg said, “Climate finance continues to be a difficult topic in these talks. Parties should remember that climate action will not be possible unless climate finance is made available and is accessible. We cannot accept another agreement where support to developing countries remains merely a wishful possibility.”

The ACT Alliance is a global network of churches and church-based agencies that does humanitarian response, sustainable development, and advocacy work. ACT is made up of 156 members working in over 125 countries.

The group said all parties are expected to develop ambitious national climate pledges (NDCs) and announce them in 2020; this needs to be formally mandated at this COP. These plans are important as they will outline how the world will handle the rapidly growing climate emergency. However, for poor and vulnerable countries, their plans can only be implemented if they receive adequate support.

“Developing countries are eager to take climate action and to build their resilience while transitioning towards low carbon development. It is therefore important that climate finance is scaled up, made predictable, accessible and is delivered by developed country parties.

“It should be acknowledged that there are already climate finance flows going to developing countries, however, there are numerous examples of climate finance being used for projects that are not necessarily related to climate change in developing countries.”

Mattias said, “A lack of agreement about what climate finance is and what it can be used for challenges the trust amongst parties in these talks. What we have seen is that developed countries claim that they offer support, while developing countries question where the money is. Without trust, the talks on climate finance will not be solved.”

Developed countries must ensure that their support is transparent and adequate and that it facilitates timely climate action where it is needed most, the group said.

The majority of existing climate finance is delivered to mitigation and the rest to adaptation. However, currently, there is no support allocated for loss and damage, making this a hot topic at COP25. Developing countries are calling for loss and damage finance and support for those who are most affected by cyclones, droughts and floods and other climate impacts.

“Loss and damage finance is a necessity and it should not be channelled from finance for adaptation or mitigation. Finance for loss and damage needs to be additional, new and predictable to allow countries to plan and respond effectively to the climate crisis,” says Julius Mbatia of ACT member Christian Aid and ACT Kenya Forum.

“Innovative sources of finance are needed to close the existing loss and damage finance gap. It is of utmost importance that loss and damage is given the priority that it deserves here at COP25,” says Julius.

“It makes no sense to have a debate where parties accept that loss and damage should be addressed, yet no support is made available. This summit should deliver a clear commitment on adequate support for those most in need, parties must promise to not leave anyone behind,” Mattias said.