Capital to host launch of climate justice fund

A FUND aimed at helping some of the world’s poorest communities tackle climate change will be launched in Scotland later this week.

First Minister Alex Salmond will be joined by the former Irish president, human rights champion Mary Robinson, when the Climate Justice Fund is launched in Edinburgh on Thursday.

Details of the fund will be announced then.

The fund launch was welcomed by the Scottish Human Rights Commission.

Chair of the body, Professor Alan Miller, said: “Climate change impacts on rights to life, livelihoods and the ways of life of many millions of people in the developing world, and is the greatest challenge to our planet this century.

“The people who have contributed least to the problem are suffering the most. This situation is manifestly unfair and cannot continue.

“The Climate Justice Fund is a welcome step forward and should result in Scotland opening up new ways to share technology, experience and expertise, as well as funding.”

Looking ahead to the event, Salmond 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.”

The First Minister welcomed the support of Robinson. He said: “Climate justice links human rights and development, and puts people at the heart of our economic system.

“Mary Robinson’s support is testament of the key role Scotland is playing in delivering climate justice.

“Scotland is providing strong leadership, sending a clear message to other industrialised nations that action is needed, and our climate justice fund is the next step in Scotland’s climate change journey.”

The creation of the fund was announced in March as MSPs held what was said to be the world’s first parliamentary debate on climate justice.