Commenting on the report, Teresa Anderson, Global Lead on Climate Justice at ActionAid International, said: “There’s a terrifying flood of evidence that climate impacts are already far worse, and harming billions more people, than was predicted even just a few years ago. It proves the urgent need for the UN to make good on last year’s historic decision at COP27 to create a new fund to help communities affected by climate-induced loss and damage.
“Everyone who reads this report will be scared for their own future. This needs to be the trigger that moves the world from grudging acceptance, to rapid action on climate change. With the finger of blame firmly pointed at the fossil fuel industry, governments need to stop delaying and start acting.
Teresa added: “For too many years, the elusive promises of technofixes or carbon offsets have allowed the biggest polluters to string us all along. Enough is enough. There is only a narrow window of opportunity to limit warming to 1.5°C, avoid runaway climate breakdown, and protect billions of people. But we can only do this if governments are willing to treat this report as a clear mandate for courageous action.”
Vanuatu is an island in the South Pacific Ocean which faces regular and intense weather events. Flora Vano, Country Manager at ActionAid Vanuatu, said: “This report is important because it captures the dire state of the planet and forecasts a future dictated by ever intensifying and frequent disasters, but in Vanuatu, I only need to leave my home to witness the harsh realities of a warming world.
“This month alone we have experienced two cyclones in the space of a week. Our situation is desperate, and this is the reality of climate change. We don’t want to be told to move to another island or another country. I don’t want to wake up to a new flood which will wipe out women and girls in my community.”
The findings of the report stress the urgent need for the Australian Government to lift its global climate finance commitments ahead of COP28.
Michelle Higelin, Executive Director at ActionAid Australia adds, “Vanuatu is one of our closest neighbours, and like many nations in the Pacific they have done the least to cause the climate crisis and have limited resources to respond, yet they are experiencing irrecoverable climate-induced loss and damage.”
“Australia is one of the world’s leading polluters per capita and we have a moral obligation to deliver our fair share of climate finance. Current contributions are woefully inadequate, and it is women and girls in the most climate-vulnerable countries who will suffer the most if we do not take rapid action to support communities to adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change.”
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About ActionAid Australia
ActionAid is a global women’s rights organisation working in more than 45 countries across the world. We want to see a just, fair, and sustainable world, in which all women enjoy the right to a life of dignity, and freedom from poverty, injustice and oppression. We work to achieve gender equality and to eradicate poverty.