Governments worldwide, including China and the European Union, announced their climate plans, as well as their Nationally Determined Contributions, at the high-level summit hosted by the United Nations Secretary-General in New York today. ActionAid believes that the announcements, particularly from Global North countries, fall way short of expectations.
Global Lead on Climate Justice at ActionAid International, Teresa Anderson, said:
“It’s grim, isn’t it. So many governments are running scared from the corporations that care only for short-term profits over long-term survival of the planet. You can almost see the fossil fuel corporations frolicking through the climate policy landscape, merrily swinging a wrecking ball as they go.
“Sadly, the lack of action and finance from the rich countries that have caused the climate crisis means vulnerable communities are facing a scary future. The Global South is being hit first, but Global North governments are hurting their own citizens, too.
“Rich polluting countries must go much further in practice than these lowball statements of intent. At the same time, we need to recognize that these insufficient climate commitments are a symptom of a deeper political sickness being felt in many countries. This is a clear signal that we need to demand more from our governments – to strengthen democracy, stand up to corporations, and fix the climate.”
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About ActionAid
ActionAid is a global federation working with more than 41 million people living in more than 71 countries, including some of the world’s poorest countries. We want to see a just, fair, and sustainable world in which everybody enjoys the right to a life of dignity and freedom from poverty and oppression. We work to achieve social justice and gender equality and to eradicate poverty, including by shifting power to local organizations and movements.
