The Belgian Federal Government has promised to donate €138 million per year by 2024 to help developing countries combat the effects of climate change. The announcement comes less than two weeks before the 27th annual UN Climate Change Conference ('COP27') in Sharm El-Sheikh.
The recent pledge, which mirrors one made by the Wallonia Government at last year's UN Conference, also comes just days after Belgium declared that it is sending to Pakistan a water treatment plant and scientific experts to provide assistance after this summer's severe floods.
Some environmental groups, however, criticised the Belgian Government's proposal for being unambitious. "It is far too little," said Rebecca Thissen, a Research Fellow on Climate Justice at CNCD-11.11.11. “We ask that that amount be increased to €500 million, which is a more fair contribution."
More help needed
At the UN Copenhagen Climate Summit in 2009, wealthier countries pledged to provide $100 billion annually by 2020 to developing countries to help them invest in green technology and mitigate the impact of global warming on their economies — a goal that was $16.7 billion short of achieving.
"The non-compensation by rich countries of climate damage in developing countries shows the lack of political will," said Bertram Zagema, a climate expert at Oxfam. "The issue is now finally on the agenda of the important UN Climate Summit starting on 6 November. Concrete agreements need to be made now. The money is there, but those most responsible for the climate crisis refuse to foot the bill."
According to Oxfam, the richest 1% of people on Earth emit two times more greenhouse gases than the poorest 50%.
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"The attitude of the Belgian delegation has always been that we must listen to legitimate demands from the poorest and most vulnerable countries and communities," Belgium's COP27 Delegation Leader, Peter Wittoeck, told De Morgen.
He added: "An important question is how can we ensure that all countries put sufficiently ambitious plans on the table. Many countries are still falling short."
According to the Paris Agreement, signed at COP21 in 2015, countries are legally bound to attempt to limit warming to below 2°C, and 'preferably' below 1.5°C.
