Former Canterbury archbishop Rowan Williams has asked wealthy nations and individuals to raise the funds required to support impoverished countries affected by climate disasters.
It will be recalled that the first steps toward establishing a “loss and damage” fund for vulnerable nations hit by extreme weather were agreed upon during the just concluded Cop27 UN climate summit in Egypt.
Although Williams acknowledged the accomplishment, he noted that the “much harder” process of replenishing the fund has yet to start, adding that the richest people in the world—often referred to as the “polluting elite” because of the massive amounts of greenhouse gases they produce through their extravagant lifestyles—must take on a greater share of the burden of helping those most affected by climate change.
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According to him, less advantaged people in wealthy nations shouldn’t be made to bear an increased burden during a period of high energy prices.
Williams suggested that one method to raise the money required for a loss and damage fund is through a windfall tax on oil and gas companies.
He however pointed out the failure of Cop27 to achieve a fossil fuel phase-out accord and expressed concern about the summit’s influence on fossil fuel companies, calling on governments to consider excluding them from future meetings.
Story was adapted from the Guardian.
