MORE THAN four million children could die unless world leaders deliver additional aid to help poor countries tackle the growing impact of climate change instead of diverting it from international aid already pledged, a new report has warned.
The warning from Oxfam International came today as world leaders, including Taoiseach Brian Cowen, prepare to join President Barack Obama at his first United Nations address on global warming at next week’s UN climate summit in New York.
This will be followed by a G20 summit, where climate finance is high on the agenda. However, with only Britain, Denmark and the Netherlands in support of additional funds, Oxfam is concerned that December’s climate conference in Copenhagen could fail.
The report, Beyond Aid, also warns that at least 75 million fewer children are likely to attend school and 8.6 million fewer people could have access to HIV/Aids treatment if international aid is diverted to help poor countries tackle climate change.
“Without at least $50 billion [€34.3 billion] year in addition to the 0.7 per cent of national income rich countries have already pledged as aid, recent progress toward the [United Nations] Millennium Development Goals could stall and then go into reverse,” it says.
Over the past seven years, 90 per cent of children in poor countries have been enrolled in school, there was a 24 per cent drop in the number of people living in extreme poverty and the number of deaths in children under five plummeted by 3.6 million.
“World leaders, including Brian Cowen, must show they are not content to stand by and watch recent successes in combating poverty reversed,” Oxfam Ireland chief executive Jim Clarken said, adding that the Government must not raid overseas aid to pay the climate bill.
“Funds must be increased – not diverted – to help poor countries adapt to climate change and this cannot be seen as a two-for-one deal by politicians,” Mr Clarken continued. “Rich countries must not steal money from poor hospitals and schools in order to pay their climate debt to the developing world.”
Oxfam points to the Global Fund, set up in 2002 to fight Aids, TB and malaria, as an example of how political will on a global scale can mobilise money. To date, it has approved funding for $15.6 billion (€10.7 billion) in more than 140 countries.
“Like the Global Fund, a fund for climate adaptation must be made available quickly,” the Oxfam report says. “Without adequate support to adapt to the changing climate, the effect is a downward spiral into deeper poverty and increased vulnerability.”
