World Vision UK Responds to King Charles III Urgent Call at Cop 28
“The warning signs of the climate crisis are being ignored.”
Press Statement, 1 December 2023, As King Charles III’s emphasizes we are “dreadfully far off track” in delivering a sustainable future for the climate, and the dangers of not tackling global heating are “no longer distant”, World Vision UK welcomes the King’s speech and the agreement made on day one to establish a Loss & Damage fund, with £60 million promised by the UK government so far. We encourage governments to speedily address climate adaptation and release agreed funding for vulnerable countries, with a crucial focus on Child + focused projects, given their particular vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.
World Vison UK urges leaders to push for real action at COP28. “Wealthier countries need to fulfil their promises. The climate crisis impacts all areas of a child’s life: it is creating a child’s rights crisis – from water and health to education and protection. It is threatening children’s survival and infringing on children’s rights – as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child” said Jason Garrett, Senior Resilience Advisor at World Vision UK.
“The announcement that countries reached agreement on setting up a loss and damage fund to help countries deal with the impacts of climate breakdown is a good step, however the funding must be accessible to the most vulnerable communities, taking into account the needs of children. Funding mechanisms tend to be very complex and difficult to access and are not child-responsive," Jason Garrett added.
We are also pleased with the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement of major funding for effective projects which aim to stop and reverse deforestation, to protect the natural environment, and to accelerate the global transition to clean and renewable energy and look forward to learning more about it. We would like to see this funding supporting effective nature-based solutions, such as Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration, that restore trees and degraded environments and help local communities to manage their own natural resources in ways that bring direct benefits to the poorest and most vulnerable.
This COP28, World Vision UK is calling on the international community to put children front and centre in global decision-making, climate finance and loss and damage funding as they historically have not been included by international leaders. Evidence shows children are disproportionately affected by climate change, yet they are repeatedly left out of crucial climate decisions.
ENDS
For media inquiries, please contact: karla.harvey@worldvision.org.uk
