This week the COP30 climate conference kicked off in Belém, Brazil. It’s the only time in the year when representatives from all countries are obliged to come together and face each other to discuss the climate crisis.
Now more than ever, lower-income countries need rich countries to step up to the plate, cancel debt and deliver much needed funding in the form of grants, not loans to help respond to the crisis. But that will only happen if we push for it.
This weekend, people around the world will be demonstrating to demand action at COP30. Can you help ratchet up the call for climate justice by joining a rally near you?
Last month Hurricane Melissa caused devastation across the Caribbean – once again demonstrating the urgent need for debt cancellation for climate vulnerable nations. Countries like Jamaica have done the least to cause the climate crisis, but climate change is hitting them first and hardest, forcing them deeper into debt.
Richard Jones, a campaigner from one of our partner organisations in Barbados, told us that ‘Mounting reconstruction costs often force governments into deeper debt, leaving the region among the most indebted in the world.’
When disaster hits, rich countries like the UK barely provide any finance for recovery and rebuilding, trapping lower-income countries even deeper in debt. An incredible 93% of climate vulnerable states are now facing a debt crisis [1]. That’s why we’re demanding action by joining rallies up and down the UK.
I’ll be speaking at the event in London, and our Executive Director Heidi Chow will be speaking in Manchester, joining the dots between the debt and climate crises, and making sure world leaders know that climate justice means debt justice.
I hope to see you there!
In solidarity
Eva, Heidi, Wiz and all at Debt Justice
