The United Kingdom Government has announced £100 million to support some of the most climate-vulnerable countries tackle climate change as well as strengthen resilience to the increasingly frequent and severe effects of climate disasters.
The commitment was made at the ongoing COP28 Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to a statement.
In a statement Andrew Mitchell, the International Development and Africa Minister said that commitment will support an initiative to strengthen early warning systems in countries on the front line of climate change, giving people advanced warning of cyclones, flooding and other extreme weather so they can move away from danger, saving lives and protecting vulnerable communities.
The statement added that the funding will also help make healthcare in the areas more resilient and able to withstand disasters, like floods, and ready to deal with spikes in infectious diseases, like cholera and malaria, due to floods caused by climate change.
The UK government also joined calls for bolder collective action to protect the lives, health and livelihoods of those most impacted by climate change, recognising the urgency of the situation, which forces 26 million into poverty every year.
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This, it said, supports the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, who announced major funding for climate projects and stressing the need for ambitious, innovative and pragmatic action.
Reacting, Mitchell, said that the devastating effects of climate change hit the most vulnerable the hardest. He however assured that the UK will continue to press for a bold and ambitious approach to support those on the frontline of our changing climate, and to create a safer planet for us all.
Mitchell also endorsed the ‘Getting Ahead of Disasters’ Charter, the ‘COP28 Declaration on Relief, Recovery and Peace’, and the ‘COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health’ on behalf of the UK. He outlined details of the funding package, which include Nearly £20 million for a package of disaster risk financing and early warning systems.
“This will help the one-third of the world’s population who are not covered by early warning systems to prepare for climate shocks and extreme weather, reducing disaster-related mortality and damage. It will also provide affordable insurance against climate disasters, such as droughts,” the statement said.
Story was adapted from Thisday.
