£3m climate justice fund launched to minimise impact of global warming

A SCOTTISH climate justice fund was today launched by First Minister Alex Salmond and former Irish President Mary Robinson.

The scheme, believed to be worth £3 million over three years, is aimed at minimising the impact of global warming on the some of the world’s poorest countries.

Water projects in Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia are to benefit from the funding, Mr Salmond announced at the launch in Edinburgh today.

He said: “The huge injustice of climate change is that it is those who have done the least to cause the problem - the most vulnerable from the world’s poorest communities - who are hardest hit by it.

“That is why Scotland is committed to supporting climate justice and why we are launching Scotland’s Climate Justice Fund.”

Ms Robinson, who is President of the Mary Robinson Foundation for Climate Justice welcomed the Scottish move.

“Creating a new narrative based on climate justice, which amplifies the voices of the vulnerable, can inject the necessary urgency and ambition into the international negotiations to reach a new legally binding agreement by 2015.

“We will know that we have achieved an equitable solution when the human rights of the most vulnerable are upheld and protected.

“Scotland’s Climate Justice Fund acknowledges that those who contributed least to the causes of climate change are bearing the brunt of its impacts.”

Climate campaigners say it will help people living in some of the world’s poorest countries affected by the changing climate, such as more frequent and severe droughts and floods.

Tom Ballantine, Chair of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, said: “The Scottish public has consistently shown its support for people around the world who are affected by poverty and climate change.

“Ahead of last year’s Scottish elections many thousands demanded that the next government create a Scottish climate adaptation fund. Their voices have been heard.”

It comes ahead of the Rio+20 summit next month which will also examine how the world’s most developed economies can face help mitigate the impact of global warming on many of the world’s poorest people.

Judith Robertson, Head of Oxfam Scotland, said: “This fund shows Scotland is once again setting an example for other countries to follow in championing and delivering climate justice.”

The Scottish Government has already passed world leading climate change legislation, which aim to reduce the country’s emissions by 42% by 2020 and 80% by 2050.