G7 should pay fair share of climate finance, says BYM
‘That which hurts the poorest… diminishes us all.’ Paul Parker, recording clerk to BYM.
As leaders of the world’s richest countries met at a G7 meeting in Italy last week, Quakers urged them to deliver new, adequate climate finance to developing countries.
In an open letter, Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) and other members of the Climate Justice Coalition, joined War on Want in reminding the G7 that their emissions are most responsible for climate change.
‘Signatories refused to accept that Global North countries do not have adequate public funds to deliver their climate finance obligations,’ said a report on the Quakers in Britain website.
‘In 2022, G7 countries spent over $1 trillion funding war and conflict,’ said the letter. ‘From 2020 to 2021 alone, G7 countries committed a total of USD 316 billion to public subsidies for fossil fuels.
‘It is well within the power of Global North governments to redirect these funds for development and climate finance and raise more by taxing their elites and corporations – many of whom are top global profiteers and polluters – to raise funds for climate finance.’
‘That which hurts the poorest people on the planet diminishes us all,’ said Paul Parker, recording clerk for BYM.
At United Nations talks in Bonn, Germany, this month, climate campaigners will announce a new figure to show how much funding is needed to pay for the climate crisis.
