NGOs Advocate for Increased Climate Support to the Pacific from Australia: A Moral Obligation

Not-for-profit organizations (NGOs) have urged the Australian government to boost its climate change aid to Pacific nations, citing it as a “moral responsibility.”

During a parliamentary inquiry on September 2, Luke Fletcher, the CEO of Jubilee Australia – a think tank focusing on economic justice in the Asia-Pacific region, stated that Australia has not done enough to assist other countries impacted by climate change.

Highlighting Australia’s standing as the third-largest fossil fuel exporter, he emphasized the country’s duty to provide more financial assistance.

“Pacific communities consistently identify climate change as the most significant threat to their societies,” he remarked.

“As a leading contributor to climate change, Australia holds a moral obligation to offer this financial aid.”

Michelle Higelin, executive director of women’s rights organization ActionAid Australia, pointed out the growing gaps in climate funding.

“Between 2014 and 2019, an average of US$550 million ($738 million) per year was provided to the region for adaptation and mitigation responses,” she noted.

“However, the International Monetary Fund estimates that the Pacific requires US$1 billion annually solely for adaptation measures, considering the costs of recovering from climate disasters and transitioning to cleaner energy sources.”

While recognizing Australia as the primary climate finance contributor in the Pacific, Higelin emphasized that the country only contributes 15 percent of its “fair share” of international climate finance.

Higelin proposed that Australia should increase this amount to approximately $4 billion per year towards the US$100 billion international climate finance target.

Meanwhile, Fletcher raised concerns that Pacific nations currently face significant debt levels and could potentially enter a “debt crisis.”

“IMF modeling shows that Pacific debt levels, which are already substantial in many states, will worsen if Australia and other donor nations opt for loans, such as those through multilateral development banks, to supply the necessary climate finance,” he explained.

The CEO suggested that Australia should offer direct grant finance instead.

UNICEF Emphasizes the Need for Child-Centered Climate Change Aid

Nicole Breeze, UNICEF Australia’s chief advocate for children, highlighted the importance of focusing Australia’s aid efforts on children.

Breeze noted that children and young people may be marginalized and overlooked in Australia’s regional engagement, despite comprising a significant portion of the population.

“Children under 18 years old represent 40 percent of the total population across Pacific island nations,” she stated.

“When considering individuals under 24 years old, this figure rises to 54 percent.”

Furthermore, Breeze emphasized that children are disproportionately affected by the impacts of the climate crisis.

“Climate change is adversely affecting children’s survival, health, well-being, educational opportunities, safety, and stability, with both immediate and long-term repercussions.”

Countries Already Surpassing Climate Funding Targets

Despite the calls from NGOs, an OECD report revealed that developed countries had already exceeded the US$100 billion climate finance goal.

The OECD highlighted this as the largest year-on-year escalation on record, resulting in the goal being achieved one year ahead of schedule.

Taxpayer funds continue to constitute the majority of climate finance contributions (80 percent).

Furthermore, there was a 52 percent surge in private finance mobilization, reaching $21.9 billion in 2022.

OEC Secretary-General Mathias Cormann urged member countries to sustain their contributions and implement policies to enhance private climate finance.