Adaptation Funding Canada’s Opportunity at Copenhagen

OTTAWA – Presenting a petition signed by Canadians across the country, several international development agencies today urged the federal government to negotiate a fair and ambitious climate agreement in Copenhagen that provides sustainable financing to help developing countries adapt to the worsening effects of climate change.

“If the government won’t set ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets to stop climate change, then at minimum Canada must lead on financing to help vulnerable countries adapt to changes that are already apparent – changes caused by our pollution,” said Mark Fried, policy coordinator at Oxfam Canada.

By assuming its share of the global financing responsibilities, the agencies said, Canada has the opportunity to make a crucial difference in the lives of the vulnerable people who suffer most from the adverse effects of a changing climate.

Along with mid-term emissions reduction targets, financing for developing countries to adapt and to pursue low-carbon development are the two fundamental issues at the Copenhagen talks.

“It is undeniable that the impacts of climate change are already predominantly experienced by the poorest countries, where billions of vulnerable people already live in poverty,” said Gerry Barr, President and CEO of the Canadian Council for International Co-operation. “It is equally undeniable that the richest, industrialized countries, including Canada, bear the overwhelming responsibility to tackle this global crisis.”

Scientists predict that as global temperatures rise, the number of people affected by climate-related disasters such as droughts and floods could rise by 50 per cent, to more than 375 million, as early 2015.

“The poorest countries are responsible for only seven per cent the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Yet 98 per cent of the 262 million people affected each year by climate-related disasters live in developing countries,” said Laure Waridel, member of the Oxfam-Québec Board of Directors.

“Wealthy countries, including Canada, must acknowledge their responsibility and adequately finance adaptation to climate change in vulnerable countries. We urge Canada to take on binding commitments in this regard in Copenhagen. It is a question not of charity, but of justice.”

“Failure in Copenhagen will mean shortened and stunted lives for women living in poverty,” Fried added. “By supporting developing country proposals for a fund to help them adapt, Canada could help clinch a fair and ambitious global deal.”

Money could be raised through a federal cap-and-trade system. A new report by Oxfam and the Pembina Institute suggests less than 10 per cent of total allowance values would be needed to raise the necessary funds.

“In the past nine months, we’ve collected more than 53,500 signatures showing Canadians want to do their part in helping vulnerable people survive the shorter growing seasons, more violent and erratic weather and increased occurrence of droughts and floods that come with climate change,” said Brian Barton, president of the Association québécoise des organismes de coopération international (AQOCI).  

“We need to act now – delay kills,” he said.