UN calls for aid to curb climate change
Rich countries will need to boost the $100bn U.S. in financial assistance given to the developing world each year by 50 to 100 per cent if they want a global deal to curb climate change, the United Nations’ Kemal Dervis, head of the UN Development Programme has said recently. He said countries such as Bangladesh, or regions such as the Sahel and the Caribbean, contributed little to global emissions – so would not be significant players in a carbon market – but were expected to suffer disproportionately from climate change; and their support would be needed for a global deal He proposed the financial assistance could come from mechanisms linked to moves to curb climate change, including industrialised countries buying more carbon credits from poorer countries as a result of lowering the amount of carbon emissions rich countries are allowed. The New Zealand Government currently contributes only 0.27 per cent of the country’s Gross National Income to overseas development aid, despite being officially committed to the UN’s Millennium Development Goals which require us to reach 0.7 per cent by 2015. Perhaps the much-needed rise in overseas aid could be linked to climate change initiatives or go to those threatened by climate change such as our neighbours in the Pacific?
March 5th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
various proposals to introduce a tobin tax (on foreign exchange speculation) that would fund “development” have emerged - particularly since 2000-ish. france, belguim, brasil, venezuela, and a whole lot of others have pushed the concept.
the “lula tax” proposal from brasil and france in 2004 aimed to apply an arms trading charge to benefit developing nations. it came on the heels of the british international finance facility proposal for a currency specualtion tax.
frog, the overall concept of your post has been tweaked a little by victoria university in partnership with vanuatu to take advantage of the clean development mechanism. they’ve an interesting programme that aims to reduce emissions from deforestation in vanuatu.
the nz govt is generally quite good at targeted aid. we concentrate on our backyard - the pacific. i’m not sure how current your 0.27% figure is, however local ngo’s have a campaign pressing for 0.7%. we’re certainly well below that, but probably more effective than most in dollar for dollar terms.
cheers
mike
March 6th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
I watched John Banks on “Intrepid Journeys” (in Madagascer) last night. Brought home the reality of living in the Thirld World. You can see why he was an effective politician, he has a knack for percieving and communicating.
jh
March 6th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
I agree jh, he really stuffs up the lefts stereotype of a right wing politician.
March 13th, 2007 at 6:27 am
>overseas aid could be linked to climate change initiatives or go to those threatened by climate change such as our neighbours in the Pacific?
I commend fellow frogers the lastest edition of “Pacific Ecologist” that explores this important equity issue. In a think piece on climate co-written with Aubrey Meyer of the Global Commons Institute (UK) Kay Weir explores the climate change options that are especially relevent to the Pacific.
One of the core features of the commended ‘contraction and convergence’ framework is the highly benefactorial manner it addresses and delivers the social dividend on a global scale.