Responding to the Scottish Government’s updated Climate Change Plan, Jamie Livingstone, Head of Oxfam Scotland, said: “The focus on cutting Scotland’s emissions in a fair and just way is welcome but must be delivered given that the climate crisis has been disproportionately caused by the richest people.
“However, fairness and justice also extend to those in the world’s poorest countries and, so far, we’ve heard no commitment to additional funding to support the people who are being hit first and worst by climate change.
“Ahead of next year’s landmark global climate talks in Glasgow, the Scottish Government must demonstrate international leadership and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with people on the frontline of the climate crisis, by significantly boosting the financial support it offers poor countries and encouraging other countries to do the same.”
/ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- Oxfam’s report, Confronting Carbon Inequality, revealed that the richest one percent of the world’s population are responsible for more than twice as much carbon pollution as the 3.1 billion people who made up the poorest half of humanity during a critical 25-year period of unprecedented emissions growth. The report, which was released in September 2020, is based on research conducted with the Stockholm Environment Institute.
- Oxfam GB released new analysis on 8 December 2020 showing that the wealthiest 1 per cent of people in the UK each produce 11 times the amount of carbon emissions of someone in the poorest half of the population.
- In its new paper, Care, climate and Covid-19: building a wellbeing economy for Scotland, Oxfam Scotland calls for the Scottish Government to increase the level of financial support it offers poor countries on the frontline of the climate crisis, by boosting its Climate Justice Fund to £10 million per year.