Delivery of short term climate funds for poor nations signals hope for the future

World Vision Australia has welcomed the progress report on Australia's fast-start finance commitments released today by The Hon Greg Combet at the UN climate talks in Cancún, Mexico. 

World Vision Australia’s CEO Tim Costello said it was a top priority for the negotiations in Cancún to progress on short-term climate funding and the development of a long-term fund to help the poorest nations most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. 

“Climate change knows no borders and will impact on our children and the generations to come,” he said. 

“Many poor nations do not have the resources or infrastructure to cope with the impacts of climate change and it’s making it harder for them to grow food, stay healthy and work their way out of poverty. 

“Australia’s announcement today on delivering their fast-start finance commitments as part of their promises made under the Copenhagen Accord signals a strong willingness to move forward to assist poor communities around the world to adapt to climate change. 

“Australia’s package is balanced with slightly more than half of the funds, $309 million, allocated to adaptation measures. 

“Funds will flow to a variety of vulnerable countries, with a strong emphasis on the Pacific Islands and countries in South and South-East Asia. We are pleased that vulnerable communities in Africa have also not been forgotten. 

“World Vision also welcomes the announced contribution of $15 million to the Adaptation Fund, recognising the push by developing countries to use this Fund as a key mechanism for delivery of urgently needed adaptation funds to vulnerable communities.” 

Rev Costello said a majority of the funds for mitigation have been allocated to forestry initiatives in Indonesia, and to helping developing countries to develop sustainably. 

“As a developed nation, Australia has an international and intergenerational responsibility to help developing countries address the consequences of climate change and avoid further impacts. World Vision applauds the government for making these funds available as grants rather than loans,” he said. 

“For development to be effective, we must help poor people cope with and mitigate the impact of climate change. New finance is essential because the reality is that climate change is making development more costly.” 

World Vision’s representative in Cancun, Linda Rademakers urged governments to make sure that communities are involved with the development and implementation of climate-related projects. 

“There is no one-way to adapt to climate change; specific measures need to be tailored to local contexts,” she said. 

“For example, in the Philippines, World Vision works on mangrove forest rehabilitation, in Ethiopia we are rehabilitating areas of forest and in Vietnam we train community groups on how to plan for natural disasters.” 

Ms Rademakers said she welcomed the Australian Government’s explicit commitment to transparency in this progress report to provide countries with confidence that promised funds will actually be delivered. She said World Vision will follow the implementation of these initiatives closely. 

“The negotiations involve much more than fast-start finance, but positive steps on this could provide the key to further progress on finance, adaptation and other crucial elements in Cancún,” she said. 

Tim Costello and Linda Rademakers are available for media interviews. Please contact media officer Sacha Myers on +61 457 926 018.