Britain 'owes billions in climate compensation'
Friday, 6 November 2009 12:01 AM
By Emmeline Saunders
Britain owes developing countries "climate compensation" of more than £17 billion a year for its contribution to climate change, according to a report by anti-poverty groups.
The UN estimates more than £250 billion a year will be needed in coming decades to help poorer countries adapt to climate change. Based on the UK's emissions, Britain is responsible for providing six per cent of the total.
The report also attacked the government's climate finance proposals as "grossly inadequate" to tackle the scale of the problem.
The proposals, which look as though they will dominate this weekend's G20 talks, are more likely to increase third world debt.
The World Development Movement and Jubilee Debt Campaign warned the issue of climate debt will be a "Copenhagen deal-breaker" for developing countries.
Report author Tim Jones said: "It's incredibly alarming that cash the government claims will help developing countries cope with climate change will actually increase their unfair debts.
"This is a huge injustice because we owe a much bigger debt to compensate developing countries for climate change.
"The UK government needs to realise that the issue of climate debt will be a Copenhagen-deal breaker," he continued.
"If rich countries refuse to recognise it, deeply rooted inequality and injustice will be locked in for decades to come."
The report criticises the UK's policy of channelling climate aid through the World Bank, which comes under fire for distributing finance through loans instead of aid, and for not insisting the money funds low carbon energy investment.
The campaigners recommend grants be used in place of loans, and for climate finance to be dispersed through the UN.
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