On Monday, several of the world’s richest nations admitted that they had failed to live up to a pledge to donate $100 billion a year to the world’s poorest countries in order to combat so-called “global warming,” according to Politico.
In a report by ministers from Canada and Germany, it was revealed that they would not be able to meet the goal until 2023, even though the annual payments were supposed to start in 2020. The pledge was first made in 2009.
“The developed world did not deliver on the commitment,” said German State Secretary for the Environment Jochen Flasbarth. He described it as “extremely unfortunate,” and said that “it’s not right that the developed countries didn’t do it in due time.”
The report, compiled by Flasbarth and Canadian Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, found that the funds sent to poorer nations by the wealthier ones fell around $20 billion short. Although they noted that the total revenue flow over the course of five years between 2021 and 2025 should average $500 billion, it will still not be as a result of an even $100 billion every year, as originally promised.
This revelation could cause tension at the COP26 climate summit next week, which will feature representatives from developing and third-world countries who would be the beneficiaries of these funds. While COP26’s President Alok Sharma stated his belief that the projected future funds, despite being late, represented “significant progress,” he nevertheless maintained that “this has been a source of deep frustration for developing countries and I absolutely get this.”
Flasbarth said that despite the setbacks, he thinks the report “is not bad enough” for participating nations “not to be constructive in Glasgow, [Scotland]” where this year’s COP26 conference will be held. “And now we really urge all parties to come to Glasgow in a spirit to solve the remaining issues.”