The United Kingdom government has increased its financial support to African countries to mitigate the effects of climate change, 263Chat has learnt.
UK’s Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly noted that in light of the devastating effects that climate change is having, particularly, in Sub-Saharan Africa, his government will provide £200 million to the African Development Bank (AfDB)’s Climate Action Window (CAW). The funding will among other things, deal with severe droughts and floods across the continent.
“Climate change is having a devastating impact on countries in Sub-Saharan Africa facing drought and extreme weather patterns, which have historically received a tiny proportion of climate finance.
“This new mechanism from the African Development Bank will see vital funds delivered to those most affected by the impacts of climate change, much more quickly.
“Lack of access to climate finance for the world’s poorest countries was a central focus at COP26 in Glasgow. This £200 million of UK funding is helping us to make tangible progress to address this issue,” he said on the sidelines of the ongoing Conference of Parties (COP27) currently underway in Egypt.
This year’s COP27 creates a unique opportunity for the world to unite, to make multilateralism work in order to restore trust and come together at the highest levels to increase ambitious targets and action in fighting the devastating climate change effects impacting the world.
Presidents from developing nations scored a signofoicant victory in sunday after developed countries agreed , albeit begrudgingly, to compansate “loss and damange” to nations heavily affected by climate change.
Pakistan, which chairs the powerful G77+China negotiating bloc of more than 130 developing nations, has made the issue a priority.
The United States and the European Union have dragged their feet for years on the proposal, fearing it would create an open-ended reparations framework.
United Nations Secretary General , AntGuterres said COP27 must agree on a “clear, time-bound roadmap” for loss and damage that delivers “effective institutional arrangements for financing”.
“Getting concrete results on loss and damage is a litmus test of the commitment of governments to the success of COP27,” express UN Secretary, Antonio Guterres.
Rich nations will also be expected to set a timetable for the delivery of $100 billion per year to help developing countries green their economies and build resilience against future climate change.
Meanwhile, UNICEF warns this year has brought overwhelming flooding to at least 27.7 million children in 27 countries worldwide.
A large majority of the 27.7 million children* affected by flooding in 2022 are among the most vulnerable and are at high risk of a multitude of threats including death by drowning, disease outbreaks, lack of safe drinking water, malnutrition, disruption in learning, and violence.
“We are seeing unprecedented levels of flooding all around the world this year, and with it, an explosion in threats to children,” said Paloma Escudero, head of the UNICEF delegation for COP27. “The climate crisis is here. In many places, the flooding is the worst it has been in a generation, or several. Our children are already suffering at a scale their parents never did.”
As well as pressing governments and big business to rapidly reduce emissions, UNICEF urges leaders to take immediate action to protect children from climate devastation by adapting the critical social services they rely on. Adaptation measures, like creating water, health and education systems that stand up to flooding and drought, will save lives.
UNICEF also urges parties to find solutions to support those who will face climate losses and damages beyond the limits of what communities can adapt to.
