CC BY NC-SA 2.0 by CNCD-11.11.11 / Flickr

COP 21: cuts in development aid jeopardise French commitments

Wednesday, 17 June 2015

The French government announced cuts in its development aid budget toward developing countries while strong COP 21 commitments will be necessary in order to help developing countries adapt to climate change.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission, said cutbacks were unacceptable. Member states are supposed to assign 0.7% of their gross national product (GNP) to official development assistance (ODA). French ODA is far from reaching its engagements.

This situation threatens the success of the COP 21 to be held in Paris in December 2015. One of the major issue to tackle is the creation of a Green Climate Fund to help developing countries adapt to climate change. Indeed, the poorest countries are the most vulnerable to climate change and its consequences (rising of sea level, ...). Developed countries also have a historical responsability since they have produced most of the greenhouse gas emissions for the last century.

Developing countries will participate to the COP 21 if they know that the developed countries will take strong commitments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and respect their engagements to finance the Green Climate Fund. French decision may already weaken the COP 21 debates.

 

Country: 

France