Nicola Sturgeon criticises 'shameless' developed nations for climate funding failure

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called the world’s developed nations ‘shameless’ after failing to fund climate change action in line with the Paris Agreement.

Agreed in 2009, the world’s wealthiest nations promised to deliver $100bn of funding to combat climate change by 2020 – but still have not delivered.

Giving her government’s response to the agreement reached at the recent COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament: “The Glasgow Climate Pact represents progress on many of these issues - but it must be built on quickly if climate catastrophe is to be avoided.

“It is important that the necessity of capping temperature increases at 1.5 degrees is no longer questioned.

“However, the world is still on a path to temperature increases of well over two degrees - a death sentence for many parts of the world.

“To keep 1.5 degrees in reach, global emissions must be almost halved by the end of this decade.

“So the requirement for countries to come back next year with substantially increased nationally determined contributions is vital. Finance is crucial to faster progress.

“I welcome the aim of doubling finance for adaptation by 2025, and the commitment to a longer term finance goal.

“But it is shameful that the developed world could not deliver the $100bn of funding promised in 2009, by the 2020 deadline - or even by 2021."

Sturgeon also highlighted her government’s role in “championing the issue of damage and loss”, but again bemoaned the lack of action by developed actions.

Sturgeon said: “This COP also delivered significant commitments on methane and deforestation.

“And for the first time - albeit in language watered down in the final moments - a COP cover text has agreed the need to move away from fossil fuels.

“In the run up to COP - and as a result of what we heard during the Glasgow Climate Dialogues - the Scottish Government decided to champion the issue of loss and damage.

“We became the first developed country in the world to make a commitment to support countries experiencing loss and damage.

“I’m delighted that our commitment has since been supplemented by Wallonia, and by a contribution from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation.

“The final position agreed at Glasgow represents progress in recognising the loss and damage that the climate crisis created by developed nations, is already causing in developing nations – but it does not go nearly far enough.

“I particularly regret the decision by some developed nations to block the establishment of a Glasgow Financial Facility on Loss and Damage.”